Amur

Amur
Heilong
Map of the Amur watershed
EtymologyFrom Mongolian: amar ("rest")
Location
Countries
Cities
Physical characteristics
SourceOnon-Shilka
 • locationKhan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, Khentii Province, Mongolia
 • coordinates48°48′59″N 108°46′13″E / 48.81639°N 108.77028°E / 48.81639; 108.77028
 • elevation2,045 m (6,709 ft)
2nd sourceArgun
 • locationGreater Khingan, Hulunbuir, China
 • coordinates49°56′13″N 122°27′54″E / 49.937°N 122.465°E / 49.937; 122.465
Source confluence 
 • locationNear Pokrovka, Russia
 • coordinates53°19′58″N 121°28′37″E / 53.33278°N 121.47694°E / 53.33278; 121.47694
 • elevation303 m (994 ft)
MouthStrait of Tartary
 • location
Near Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
 • coordinates
52°56′50″N 141°05′02″E / 52.94722°N 141.08389°E / 52.94722; 141.08389
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length2,824 km (1,755 mi) (Amur–Argun–Hailar: 4,444 km)
Basin size1,855,000 km2 (716,000 sq mi) 2,129,700 km2 (822,300 mi2)(with undrained areas)
Width 
 • maximum5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Depth 
 • maximum57 m (187 ft)
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average(Period: 2002–2020)12,360 m3/s (390 km3/a) (Period: 1896–2004)11,330 m3/s (400,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationBogorodskoye
 • average(Period: 2008–2019)11,459 m3/s (404,700 cu ft/s) (Period: 1896–2004) 10,100 m3/s (360,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationKomsomolsk-on-Amur
 • average(Period: 2012–2019)10,259 m3/s (362,300 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationKhabarovsk
 • average(Period: 2008–2018)8,384 m3/s (296,100 cu ft/s) (Period: 1896–2004)8,360 m3/s (295,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationBlagoveshchensk
 • average(Period: 1971–2000)2,859.1 m3/s (100,970 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionStrait of Tartary (Sea of Okhotsk)
River systemAmur River
Tributaries 
 • leftShilka, Amazar, Oldoy, Zeya, Bureya, Arkhara, Bidzhan, Bira, Tunguska, Bolon, Gorin, Bichi, Amgun, Palvinskaya
 • rightArgun, Emuer, Huma, Xun, Kuerbin, Songhua, Nongjiang, Ussuri, Sita, Nemta, Anyuy, Gur, Yai
Amur
Russian name
Russianрека Амур
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese黑龙江
Traditional Chinese黑龍江
PostalHeilung Kiang
Literal meaning"Black Dragon River"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHēilóng Jiāng
Gwoyeu RomatzyhHeilong Jiang
Wade–GilesHei1-lung2 Chiang1
IPA[xéɪ.lʊ̌ŋ.tɕjáŋ]
Wu
RomanizationHa lon kaon
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHāak-lùhng Gōng
JyutpingHaak1-lung4 Gong1
IPA[hak̚˥.lʊŋ˩.kɔŋ˥]
Southern Min
Tâi-lôHik-lîng Kang
Manchu name
Manchu scriptᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ
ᡠᠯᠠ
RomanizationSahaliyan ula

The Amur River (Russian: река Амур) or Heilong River (simplified Chinese: 黑龙江; traditional Chinese: 黑龍江) is a perennial river in Northeast Asia, forming the natural border between the Russian Far East and Northeast China (historically the Outer and Inner Manchuria). The Amur proper is 2,824 km (1,755 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 1,855,000 km2 (716,000 mi2). If including its main stem tributary, the Argun, the Amur is 4,444 km (2,761 mi) long, making it the world's tenth longest river.

The Amur is an important river for the aquatic fauna of Northeast Asia. The river basin is home to a variety of large predatory fish such as northern snakehead, Amur pike, taimen, Amur catfish, predatory carp and yellowcheek, as well as several species of trout and anadromous salmonids. The largest fish species in the Amur is the kaluga, a sturgeon that is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, attaining a length as great as 5.6 m (18 ft). The Amur is also home to the northernmost populations of the Amur softshell turtle and Indian lotus.