Black River (Asia)

The Black River (from the Vietnamese name sông Đà, from đà "dark-brown"), also known upstream as the Lixian River in China, is a river located in China and northwestern Vietnam.

Course

Its source is in Yunnan province of China. From China, the river's course passes through the Vietnamese provinces of Lai Châu (where it forms part of the border with Điện Biên Province), Sơn La and Hòa Bình.

The Black River is the most important tributary of the Red River, which it joins in Tam Nông District near Việt Trì in Phú Thọ Province. It also forms part of the border between Phú Thọ Province and Hanoi (previously the border with Hà Tây Province).

The river's total length is 910 km, with approximately 427 km in China and 527 km in Vietnam.

Hydroelectric power

The Black River yields substantial hydroelectric power.

In China, seven dams are planned of which six, the Yayangshan Dam, Shimenkan Dam, Longma Dam, Jufudu Dam, Gelantan Dam, and Tukahe Dam, have been completed. The Xinpingzhai Dam is still in the planning stage. The total installed power capacity of this series of dams is approximately 1,300 megawatts.