Photos of Jiamusi Ussuri River

The Ussuri River is a tributary of China's Heilongjiang River and the boundary river between China and Russia. In Manchu, "Usuli River" means "River in Water" and "River of Sunrise in the East". The upper reaches of the Ussuri River are formed by the confluence of the Ural River and the Daubi River. Both rivers originate from the southwestern slopes of the Sikhote Mountains and flow northeast to the confluence of Khabarovsk (Boli) and Heilongjiang. It is 909 kilometers (565 miles) long and has a watershed area of 187,000 square kilometers (72,200 square miles). The river is very wide and the current is very slow. The main tributaries are Song Acha River, Muling River and Naoli River. There was a long section of the main stream that caused the Sino-Soviet border dispute (1969). In 1977, the two sides formulated the navigation rules in the Sino-Soviet border waters. The Ussuri River has a freezing period of about 5 months. It is navigable below the mouth of the Ural River. The Ussuri River is rich in fish production, and is one of the few unpolluted rivers in China because of its wide river surface and stable water flow, which is convenient for shipping.