Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The Nu River originates at more than 5,500 meters high on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,
before flowing southward through Yunnan and continuing through Myanmar, where it
forms part of the Thailand-Myanmar border and is known as the Salween. With a total
length of 2,018 kilometers, the Nu is often referred to as “Asia's longest free-flowing
river,” although several dams are under construction downstream in Myanmar, with finan-
cial backing from Thai and Chinese government agencies and hydropower corporations.
The name “Nu,” which translates literally as “Angry,” is actually a phonetic rendering of
