China's 5,400-km Yellow River has frozen along a course of about
1,211 kilometers so far this winter, according to sources with the
Yellow River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Due to frequent cold waves, the course of the Yellow River in the
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region began to freeze on Nov. 7, and was
totally frozen by Dec. 9.
Meanwhile, other parts of the river have frozen in various degrees.
A 212-km lower section in Shandong province has frozen, local
sources said.
When the Yellow River freezes, which usually lasts until early
spring, water will start to accumulate upstream, leading to higher
water levels in parts of the river and thereby floods. The floods
used to threaten the safety of embankments along some narrow and
winding sections of the river in early spring.
The related provinces have paid much attention to the ice flow, and
mobilized people to form emergency squads, and supplies of
materials and equipment are also available for possible rescue
operations, said sources with the flood control headquarters.
(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2003)