Taken from Chapter 2: A land of many variations Flood waters: friend or foe? Rivers are a source of life. Their waters provide riverside communities with fish, and their silk fertilizes the areas of land close to the water. For centuries the great rivers of China flooded the countryside around them. These flood waters left behind rich soil carried down from the higher lands. Over time these areas have become huge, flat, fertile basins. The Yellow River basin, for example, is the most important flat land in China's northeast. The soil in this area is formed from fine, wind-blown yellow-gray dust from the Gobu Desert. The land is fertile and holds moisture well. It is ideal for agriculture. As well as being a source of life, rivers can also be a source of disaster.
