The Mekong

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
The dry season......some views from Wat Phra That Pa Ngao downstream from Chiang Saen.
24 February 2018

Looking downstream
GTR - IMG_1045.JPG


Looking upstream
GTR - IMG_1064.JPG


GTR - IMG_1047.JPG

look closely at the above pic & notice
1. River dredging for sand on the Laos side
GTR - IMG_1055.JPG


2. The massive new Kings Roman Chinese city being built at the Golden Triangle by the casino
GTR - IMG_1056B.JPG


Unbelievable you might say too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie

ianyonok

0
Subscribed
Dec 9, 2008
1,082
862
113
Disturbing, ugly, sad.... and other words come to mind.
The local Laos people will gain nothing from this development.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie

ianyonok

0
Subscribed
Dec 9, 2008
1,082
862
113
Came back from Mekong Pizza in Sop Ruak, a couple of nights ago and noticed they have put pointy top pieces on the 16 story hotel across the river.
In fact, night time really shows the huge extent of the ugly transformation across the river, as the city now covers a large area.
Much of it looks like a childrens fairground with lights everywhere. There seem to be light effects on all the larger buildings. Bright reds, yellows and pinks, flashing around across the roofs and outside of the buildings.
The other time you notice it, is when coming down the hill before the Hall of Opium, on the way from Mae Sai.
It would probably not be an understatement to say it is one of the ugliest views in Thailand.
Fortunately, it isn't in Thailand.....
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
June - July 2021 A comparison on how much has rises & falls so quickly..

15 June 2021 the first heavy rains, but with some significant help from the Chinese dams.

The main Chiang Khong port downtown.
1626941726465.png


1626941747823.png


19 June. 4 days later & the taps have been turned off.
1626941472609.png


The river then stayed significantly low for a month
1626942431265.png


The Chiang Khong cargo point 15 June 2021
1626941095382.png


I always use the power box marker to gauge the river height - if it is flooding or not.
1626941294214.png


8th July back down low again
1626942662346.png


1626945737314.png

Note the position of the meter box towards the bottom of the ramp.

In the second half of July some extremely heavy rainfall upstream starts to fill the river in 48 hours.

21 July 2021 the main cargo port and the river is rapidly on the way back up
1626944763489.png


1626945134849.png


22 July 2021 - 24 hours later & the water is closing in on the meter box.
1626946045501.png


1626946061318.png


1626946082662.png


How high does it get?

The 2018 flood

1991 at the old immigration port
1626973246831.png


1626973261178.png


But 2008 is maybe the winner that I know of.
1626947355516.png




Enjoy, watching the river flow @ Chiang Khong.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Eoin Christie

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Thanks for Jean Baptiste I was recently tipped off about some old French survey maps of the Mekong for the Siam - Laos border. Dated January 1931.

Here is one for the Chiang Khong area
1634666666690.png


The detail is incredible. Every rock, cliff, beach & island in the Mekong!

Upstream from Chiang Khong
1634666936298.png


Downstream from Chiang Khong: Kaeng Pha Dai & "the Mekong end of the road."
1634667041915.png
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,455
5,287
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
11 February 2021.

A few pics from the "60 year low" upstream from Chiang Khong.

1644861234591.png


1644861250860.png


1644861262946.png


1644861327555.png



1644861360019.png


1644861438084.png


Check out this fabulous, free, downloadable book on the Mekong
https://themekongbutterfly.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/photobook.pdf



 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ian Bungy