This great river flows through China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is a vital source of water for irrigation and increasingly for power, but building dams and taking water for irrigation can cause friction between countries. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was set up in 1995 to ensure that the river is used fairly. China and Myanmar do not yet belong to this grouping, but discussions with them do take place.
Rapids and waterfalls and the great variation in flow from season to season make transport extremely difficult on this river. It hosts a tremendous variety of fish — more than 1,200 species have been identified. Consequently, fishing is an important part of the economy of the area and a vital source of protein in the diet of people living near the river.
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