Yalu

The Yalu River, commonly known as the Amnok River, runs along the North Korean-China border. It rises 8,200 feet above sea level on Mount Paektu and flows south into the Korean Bay. It stretches for 491 miles and is home to more than 200 islands. The river is important to North Korea's economy since it sustains Asia's largest hydroelectric plant, facilitates transportation, and provides fish to the population for food. This is also the longest river in North Korea.

The origin of the river's name is the subject of two theories. One explanation is that the name comes from the Manchu word Yalu ula. Yalu is a Manchu term that signifies "border between two countries." In Mandarin Chinese, ylù is a phonetic equivalent of the original Manchu name, but it actually means "duck green," which was once the river's color. Another idea is that the river was named after the union of its two upper branches, which were known as (Y or Ap) and (Lù or R(or n)ok), respectively.

It was spelled Amnokgang in Revised Romanization of Korean and Aprokgang in Revised Romanization of Hangeul. The river flows south from Paektu Mountain on the China–North Korea border to Hyesan before sweeping 130 kilometers northwest to Linjiang and then returning to a more southerly direction for another 300 kilometers before emptying into the Korea Bay between Dandong (China) and Sinuiju (North Korea) (North Korea). Jilin and Liaoning are two Chinese provinces near the border.

The river runs about 795 kilometers (494 miles) and receives water from 30,000 square kilometers of land. The Changjin, Hochon, and Togro rivers in Korea, and the Ai (or Aihe) and Hun rivers in China, are the Yalu's most important tributaries. For the most part, the river is difficult to navigate. During the winter, the river freezes over and can be traversed on foot.

The ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo ascended to prominence in the river basin. Many old fortresses may be seen along the river, and the kingdom's previous capital was located in what is now Ji'an, Jilin, beside the Yalu, a place rich in Goguryeo era antiquities. General Yi Songgye (later Taejo of Joseon) decided to send back his troops southward to Kaesong on Wihwa Island on the river in 1388, in the first of a series of revolts that eventually led to the establishment of the House of Yi.

Length: 795 kilometers (494 miles)