Great Tenasserim River
Encyclopedia
Great Tenasserim River or the Tanintharyi River is a major river of southeastern Burma
. It flows through the Tanintharyi Region, past the town of Tanintharyi
before entering the sea at Myeik (Mergui
). The river rises from the Tenasserim Range at an altitude of 2074 m (6,804.5 ft) and flows into the Andaman Sea
. The region formed by this river is also known as Tenasserim, Tanintharyi in Burmese
, which is in a constricted coastal region in southeastern Myanmar
(formerly Burma), which has border with Thailand
on the east and the Andaman Sea on the west.
While non-indigenous fruit trees and other traces of a large population that once occupied the river banks are evident, the ethnic groups who live in this river valley are the Karens in the west and north, Thais
in the south, and Burmans who speak a distinct dialect of Burmese.
(Tenasserim).
Tanintharyi, the capital of the province, is located on the southern bank of the Great Tenasserim where it is joined by the Little Tenasserim River. From here, it flows 33 mi (53.1 km) before reaching the Andaman Sea at the major seaside town of Myeik (Mergui
), situated on a small island that is formed by two branches of the river. These branches constitute the two largest mouths of the Great Tenasserim; there are several. Myeik is located on the island's peninsula that projects into the Andaman Sea. The river's arrival at the Andaman Sea is 150 mi (241.4 km) to the south of Tavoy and about 45 mi (72.4 km) north of where the Lenya River
enters the sea. The river delta stretches over a coast line of 20 mi (32.2 km) with outlet channels of which the navigable channel is 3 mi (4.8 km) south of the town of Mergui at the mouth.
The river banks are characterized as almost perpendicular in some area. Islands dot the river in the low land areas. Rapids occur in narrow areas of the channel. The tide is felt 10 mi (16.1 km) above Tanintharyi. The Tenasserim plains to the north are drained by a series of short rivers and tributaries. Soil erosion is reported in the upland ridges of the region. Tributaries include Tonbyaw Creek, Thuggoo River, as well as the Hti-phan-ko stream on the Great Tenasserim's right bank.
and Thailand, Great Tenasserim River region came under the control of the Burmese. In the first Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26) British took control of the region. They first occupied Myeik town – the first town of Burma to become a part of British India in 1826. Thereafter, in 1941 during World War II
, the Japan
ese occupied Tenasserim region, and they held Burma from 1941 to 1945. After the war, in 1948, the region became independent from Britain
.
. Tin
in the southern portion of the Tenasserim division, tungsten
, and iron ore mines are found near Tavoy and Mergui; tin is being purified in a plant in Heinda. Manganese has also been found in the river valley. Tin as a mineral (a dioxide), in the Mergui and Tavoy districts of the valley, is extracted from the pebbles found in the river. Pebbles are collected and then washed; washing process yields 70% tin in the first washing and 75% in the second washing, and the ore thus extracted is said to be very rich and metal produced from this ore is also stated to be of excellent quality. Lead has also been found in the valley at Toungoo, and at the mouth of the river on Maingay Island in the Mergui Archipelago, which is yet to be extracted.
Coal deposits were discovered on the Great Tenasserim around 1838, and five years later, an experimental coal seam was worked. By 1863, indications of coal fields, though not of consequence, were noted on the Great Tenasserim above Tanintharyi, while a 6 ft (1.8 m) bed of crop coal above the Falls of the Great Tenasserim was determined to be of inferior quality and abandoned. Balfour, in 1871, described a principal mine worked about 90 mi (144.8 km) from the river's mouth and said of the river valley coal that its best parts were considered an improvement over ordinary lignite while equal to bituminous coal's inferior portions. Extensive coal deposits have been found on the river banks. They are concentrated in the river valley about 67 mi (107.8 km) upstream from the Mergu River mouth. It is in the form of thin beds of shale
s, sandstone
s and conglomerate
s. Its extraction, however, has been limited.
and Singapore
. The first survey of the river for a hydroelectric project was conducted in 2007 by the KNU
. The state-run New Light of Myanmar
newspaper claimed that a signing ceremony for the Tenasserim Hydropower Project was held on October 9, 2008, between the Burmese Ministry of Electric Power No. 1, the Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd., of Thailand and Singapore's Wind Fall Energy Services Ltd. The Burmese military and Thai officials took water levels in December 2008. A Thai expert has been hired to take water level measurements of the river in different areas in different seasons to assess the best location for a dam. Two possible sites have since been identified for a dam which is expected to generate 600 Mega Watts. The first is located in the upper river in the village of Ler Pa Doh and the second is located in the lower river course near Muro
, about three hours apart down the river by boat.
A new fish species of the loaches family (the true loaches, which are termed as "Old World freshwater fish") was captured for the first time in 1993 in the Great Tenasserim River and was named as Kamphol Udomritthiruj after the person who found it. It was recognized to bear apparent resemblance to the Botia rostrata species of loaches. Its final identification led to the species being named Botia udomritthiruji, common name Emperor loach. It is an aquarium type of fish.
This loach has not been exported from the area due to a serious insurgency problem prevailing in the region.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. It flows through the Tanintharyi Region, past the town of Tanintharyi
Tanintharyi
Tanintharyi or Taninthayi is a small town in Taninthayi Township, Myeik District, in the Tanintharyi Region of southwestern Burma . It is the administrative seat for the township. The town is located on the Great Tenasserim River which eventually enters the sea at Myeik...
before entering the sea at Myeik (Mergui
Mergui
Myeik is a city in Tanintharyi Division in Myanmar , located in the extreme south of the country on the coast of an island on the Andaman Sea. the estimated population was over 209,000. The area inland from the city is a major smuggling corridor into Thailand.-History:Myeik was the southernmost...
). The river rises from the Tenasserim Range at an altitude of 2074 m (6,804.5 ft) and flows into the Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
. The region formed by this river is also known as Tenasserim, Tanintharyi in Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
, which is in a constricted coastal region in southeastern Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(formerly Burma), which has border with Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
on the east and the Andaman Sea on the west.
While non-indigenous fruit trees and other traces of a large population that once occupied the river banks are evident, the ethnic groups who live in this river valley are the Karens in the west and north, Thais
Thaïs
Thaïs was a famous Greek hetaera who lived during the time of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns. She is most famous for instigating the burning of Persepolis. At the time, Thaïs was the lover of Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander's generals...
in the south, and Burmans who speak a distinct dialect of Burmese.
Geography
The Great Tenasserim River is one of the major rivers of southeastern Burma, and the most substantial running through the Tanintharyi Region. The river rises from the Tenasserim Range at a height of 2074 m (6,804.5 ft) and after passing by several towns, including Tagu, Banlaw, Wunna, Thamihla, as well as the right bank towns of Tharapon and Kahan, it reaches TanintharyiTanintharyi
Tanintharyi or Taninthayi is a small town in Taninthayi Township, Myeik District, in the Tanintharyi Region of southwestern Burma . It is the administrative seat for the township. The town is located on the Great Tenasserim River which eventually enters the sea at Myeik...
(Tenasserim).
Tanintharyi, the capital of the province, is located on the southern bank of the Great Tenasserim where it is joined by the Little Tenasserim River. From here, it flows 33 mi (53.1 km) before reaching the Andaman Sea at the major seaside town of Myeik (Mergui
Mergui
Myeik is a city in Tanintharyi Division in Myanmar , located in the extreme south of the country on the coast of an island on the Andaman Sea. the estimated population was over 209,000. The area inland from the city is a major smuggling corridor into Thailand.-History:Myeik was the southernmost...
), situated on a small island that is formed by two branches of the river. These branches constitute the two largest mouths of the Great Tenasserim; there are several. Myeik is located on the island's peninsula that projects into the Andaman Sea. The river's arrival at the Andaman Sea is 150 mi (241.4 km) to the south of Tavoy and about 45 mi (72.4 km) north of where the Lenya River
Lenya River
Lenya or Lehyna River is a river of Burma. The Lenya flows into the Andaman Sea about 45 miles south of where the Great Tenasserim River enters the sea near Myeik .-References:...
enters the sea. The river delta stretches over a coast line of 20 mi (32.2 km) with outlet channels of which the navigable channel is 3 mi (4.8 km) south of the town of Mergui at the mouth.
The river banks are characterized as almost perpendicular in some area. Islands dot the river in the low land areas. Rapids occur in narrow areas of the channel. The tide is felt 10 mi (16.1 km) above Tanintharyi. The Tenasserim plains to the north are drained by a series of short rivers and tributaries. Soil erosion is reported in the upland ridges of the region. Tributaries include Tonbyaw Creek, Thuggoo River, as well as the Hti-phan-ko stream on the Great Tenasserim's right bank.
History
In the late 18th century, during the wars on territorial dispute between MyanmarMyanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
and Thailand, Great Tenasserim River region came under the control of the Burmese. In the first Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26) British took control of the region. They first occupied Myeik town – the first town of Burma to become a part of British India in 1826. Thereafter, in 1941 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese occupied Tenasserim region, and they held Burma from 1941 to 1945. After the war, in 1948, the region became independent from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Economic development
The agricultural operations in the Tenasserim River valley is mainly paddy rice, mostly near Tavoy, vegetables, coconuts, rubber, and teak. Salt extraction is also done. Wood and bamboo products are manufactured in Tavoy. Fishing in the sea is a major industry at Myeik, the port town at the mouth of the river and exports of sea fish has brought prosperity to the town in particular. As a result, in the 1990s the town started flourishing with modern buildings. Large boats can navigate the river as far inland as Tanintharyi (Tenasserim Town).Resources
The river is said to be rich in sources of manganeseManganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
. Tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
in the southern portion of the Tenasserim division, tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
, and iron ore mines are found near Tavoy and Mergui; tin is being purified in a plant in Heinda. Manganese has also been found in the river valley. Tin as a mineral (a dioxide), in the Mergui and Tavoy districts of the valley, is extracted from the pebbles found in the river. Pebbles are collected and then washed; washing process yields 70% tin in the first washing and 75% in the second washing, and the ore thus extracted is said to be very rich and metal produced from this ore is also stated to be of excellent quality. Lead has also been found in the valley at Toungoo, and at the mouth of the river on Maingay Island in the Mergui Archipelago, which is yet to be extracted.
Coal deposits were discovered on the Great Tenasserim around 1838, and five years later, an experimental coal seam was worked. By 1863, indications of coal fields, though not of consequence, were noted on the Great Tenasserim above Tanintharyi, while a 6 ft (1.8 m) bed of crop coal above the Falls of the Great Tenasserim was determined to be of inferior quality and abandoned. Balfour, in 1871, described a principal mine worked about 90 mi (144.8 km) from the river's mouth and said of the river valley coal that its best parts were considered an improvement over ordinary lignite while equal to bituminous coal's inferior portions. Extensive coal deposits have been found on the river banks. They are concentrated in the river valley about 67 mi (107.8 km) upstream from the Mergu River mouth. It is in the form of thin beds of shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
s, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
s and conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
s. Its extraction, however, has been limited.
Hydroelectric power
In 2009, an announcement was made that the Burmese authorities had begun surveying the river for a potential hydroelectric power project along the river which would generate electricity to be exported to ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The first survey of the river for a hydroelectric project was conducted in 2007 by the KNU
KNU
KNU can refer to:* Kangwon National University* Kanpur Airport, IATA Code:KNU* Karen National Union* Kongju National University* Korea Nazarene University* Kyiv National University* Kyungpook National University...
. The state-run New Light of Myanmar
New Light of Myanmar
The New Light of Myanmar is a government-owned newspaper published by the Ministry of Information and based in Yangon , Myanmar....
newspaper claimed that a signing ceremony for the Tenasserim Hydropower Project was held on October 9, 2008, between the Burmese Ministry of Electric Power No. 1, the Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd., of Thailand and Singapore's Wind Fall Energy Services Ltd. The Burmese military and Thai officials took water levels in December 2008. A Thai expert has been hired to take water level measurements of the river in different areas in different seasons to assess the best location for a dam. Two possible sites have since been identified for a dam which is expected to generate 600 Mega Watts. The first is located in the upper river in the village of Ler Pa Doh and the second is located in the lower river course near Muro
Muro
Muro, a word meaning wall in Spanish, Portuguese Italian, Esperanto and Ido languages, may stand for:- Places :France* Muro, Haute-Corse, a commune in the département of Haute-Corse.Italy* Muro Leccese, a municipality of the Province of Lecce, Apulia...
, about three hours apart down the river by boat.
Fish fauna
This loach has not been exported from the area due to a serious insurgency problem prevailing in the region.