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Why are many rivers in Yunnan difficult to navigate?
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Yunnan
Pavilion atop Yulongxue (āJade Dragon Snowā) Mountain, near Lijiang, Yunnan province, China.
Many rivers in Yunnan are difficult to navigate primarily because of the province's rugged topography. In the western canyon region, high mountain ranges force riversāsuch as the Salween, the Mekong, and the Black Riverāto flow through deep, narrow V-shaped valleys. The resulting river currents are extremely swift, making them unsuitable for navigation. While these conditions hinder transport, they also provide significant potential for hydroelectric power.1