1. Earthshots
  2. Huang He Delta, China
  3. The 1996 Rechanneling
Description

While the river’s course and delta have changed naturally over time, people have also caused a lot of change. More water upstream is being used for irrigation. Dams and reservoirs on the river and its tributaries reduce the amount of sediment that reaches the delta. Seawalls have been built to reclaim land for the oil industry and for shrimp and salt farms. Additionally, levees now keep the main river from branching out at the delta.

People have caused the latest shift in the river that has affected the delta’s shape. In 1996, Chinese engineers blocked the main channel, making the river empty into the sea to the northeast instead of directly to the east. We see in the 1999 image where the new peninsula has formed from this shift, and where the old peninsula is beginning to retreat.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

June 2, 1976, Landsat 2 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

June 2, 1976, Landsat 2 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

May 27, 1979, Landsat 3 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

May 27, 1979, Landsat 3 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

June 7, 1984, Landsat 2 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

June 7, 1984, Landsat 2 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 23, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 23, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 7, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 7, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 2, 2001, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 2, 2001, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 11, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sept. 11, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 5, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 5, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 27, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 27, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Sep. 30, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of Huang He Delta, China

Sep. 30, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 3, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Oct. 3, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

June 2, 1976, Landsat 2 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
May 27, 1979, Landsat 3 (path/row 130/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
June 7, 1984, Landsat 2 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Sept. 23, 1991, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Oct. 7, 1999, Landsat 7 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Sept. 2, 2001, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Sept. 11, 2010, Landsat 5 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Oct. 5, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Oct. 27, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China
Sep. 30, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of Huang He Delta, China
Oct. 3, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 121/34) — close up of the Huang He Delta, China

Huang He Delta, China Additional Imagery & Stories

Delta Shifts
Delta Shifts

The Huang He Delta has historically built up over a broad area because of its wandering ways. The river’s course in its lower reaches has shifted 11 t...

Dongying
Dongying

The city of Dongying is prominent in the 2010 image. Its current population is over 1.2 million. But you won’t find the city in the 1976 or 1979 image...