Huang He

The Huang He, also known as the Yellow River, is the second-longest river in China, flowing approximately 5,464 kilometers (3,395 miles). It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and travels through northern China before emptying into the Bohai Sea. The river is called "Yellow" because of the large amounts of loess (fine yellowish sediment) it carries, which gives the water its color. Historically, the Huang He has been a vital source for irrigation, transportation, and agriculture, but it is also known for frequent flooding that has shaped Chinese civilization and landscape over thousands of years.