Map of the Irrawaddy River, which drains parts of Myanmar (Burma), Thailand and India into the Andaman Sea

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El río Irrawaddy o río Ayeyarwady, es un río que fluye de norte a sur a través de Birmania (Myanmar). Es el río más grande del país y la vía comercial más importante. Originado en la confluencia de los ríos N'mai y Mali, fluye relativamente recto de norte a sur antes de vaciar por el Delta del Irrawaddy en el mar de Andaman. Su área de drenaje de aproximadamente 255.081 km ² cubre una gran parte de Birmania. Después del poema de Rudyard Kipling, se le alude a veces como "La autopista a Mandalay".

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Río Irrawaddy: lobbies de represas chinos, autocracia militar e impacto ecológico en Birmania

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Boat on River Irrawaddy (1989)

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Ya en el siglo VI el río fue utilizado para el comercio y el transporte. Habiéndose desarrollado una extensa red de canales de riego, el río se convirtió en importante para el Imperio Británico después de haber colonizado Birmania. El río sigue siendo tan vital hoy como siempre, ya que una cantidad considerable de los bienes de exportación y el tráfico se mueve por vía fluvial. El arroz se produce en el delta del Irrawaddy, regado por las aguas del río.

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En 2007, el gobierno militar de Birmania firmó un acuerdo para la construcción de siete represas en los ríos N'mai y Mali, incluyendo la represa Myitsone de 3.600 kW en la confluencia de ambos ríos. Las organizaciones ecologistas han expresado su preocupación por el impacto ecológico en los ecosistemas biodiversos del río. Animales potencialmente afectadas incluyen el delfín del Irrawaddy, mamífero acuático en peligro.

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http://www.eoearth.org/article/Irrawaddy_dolphin?topic=49540

Río Irrawaddy: lobbies de represas chinos, autocracia militar e impacto ecológico en Birmania

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The new Ayeyarwady Bridge (Yadanabon) at Sagaing, Ava Bridge behind.

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"And when the day comes that we can communicate intelligently with dolphins, they may introduce us to the concept of survival without aggression, and the true joy of living, which at present eludes us. In that circumstance what they have to teach us would be infinitely more valuable than anything we could offer them in exchange."

The Irrawaddy gives its name to a dolphin, the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), which is found in the lower reaches of the river and known to help fishermen who practice cast-net fishing. Though sometimes called the Irrawaddy River Dolphin, it has been also found at sea

Built in 1934, the Ava Bridge near Sagaing, Myanmar was the only bridge over the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River until 1998.

The Irrawaddy River or Ayeyarwady River, is a river that flows from north to south through Burma (Myanmar). It is the country's largest river and most important commercial waterway. Originating from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers, it flows relatively straight North-South before emptying through the Irrawaddy Delta into the Andaman Sea. Its drainage area of about 255,081 km² covers a large part of Burma. After Rudyard Kipling's poem, it is sometimes referred to as 'The Road to Mandalay'.

As early as the sixth century the river was used for trade and transport. Having developed an extensive network of irrigation canals, the river became important to the British Empire after it had colonized Burma. The river is still as vital today, as a considerable amount of (export) goods and traffic moves by river. Rice is produced in the Irrawaddy Delta, irrigated by water from the river.

In 2007, Burma's military government signed an agreement for the construction of seven dams, yielding a total 13,360 kW, in the N'mai and Mali Rivers, including the 3,600 kW Myitsone Dam at the confluence of both rivers. Environmental organisations have raised concerns about the ecological impacts on the river's biodiverse ecosystems. Animals potentially impacted include the threatened Irrawaddy dolphin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrawaddy_River

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Woman sailing in small boat along west bank of the Irrawaddy  - 1989

Pagodas on Sagaing Hill and Ayeyarwady River in the background, Sagaing, Sagaing Division

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Irrawaddy River, the main river of Burma

Irrawaddy Delta, a rice growing region of the country

Ayeyarwady Region, an administrative division of Burma

Irrawaddy Dolphin, a dolphin which is found in the Irrawaddy River

The Irrawaddy gives its name to a dolphin, the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), which is found in the lower reaches of the river and known to help fishermen who practice cast-net fishing. Though sometimes called the Irrawaddy River Dolphin, it has been also found at sea

El río Irrawaddy da su nombre a un delfín, el delfín del Irrawaddy (Orcaella brevirostris), que se encuentra en el curso inferior del río y es conocido por ayudar a los pescadores que practican la pesca de atarraya. A veces, el llamado delfín del Irrawaddy, se ha encontrado en el mar

Bufalos tirando troncos hacia el Irrawaddy en Mandalay, Myanmar

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Grandes balsas hechas con troncos de teca en la orilla del Irrawaddy para ser conducidas río abajo. (agosto 2009)

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Making teak logs into large rafts on the shore of the Irrawaddy River to float them down the river.(ago 2009)

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Chinese troops crossing the Irrawaddy 1942

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Mercado en la orilla oeste del río Irrawaddy 1989

Market on the west bank of River Irrawaddy 1989

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Mercadillo en el  Irrawaddy (Birmania Central-1999)

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Human-Dolphin Partnership Becomes Protected Area

The government of Myanmar has established a protected area for, of all things, a partnership between fishermen and a small, gray beakless dolphin with a knack for herding fish into nets, as per the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Specifically, some 70 kilometers of the Ayeyarwady River have been protected to safeguard the cooperative fishery. It also supports one third of the river's population of Irrawaddy dolphins, a species that is........Go to the Plant-science-blog (Added on 6/22/2006)

http://www.biology-blog.com/main-archives/Sep-3-2006.html

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