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How does the Mali River differ from the Nmai River?
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Irrawaddy River
The Irrawaddy and Mekong river basins and their drainage networks.
The Mali and Nmai rivers are the two branches that converge to form the Irrawaddy River in northern Myanmar. They differ in the following ways:
- Geography and Flow: The Nmai River is the eastern branch, rising in the Languela glacier on the border with Tibet (China). The Mali River is the western branch, rising in the hills near the northern border of Myanmar.12
- Navigability: The Nmai is approximately 300 miles (480 km) long and is virtually unnavigable due to its strong current. The Mali is shorter, at about 200 miles (320 km) long, and features a gentler gradient that allows for some navigable sections, despite being interrupted by rapids.312
- Volume: The Nmai carries a greater volume of water than the Mali.1