Klang River
| Klang River | |
|---|---|
The Gombak River (left) merges with the Klang River (right) at Kuala Lumpur. | |
| Native name | Sungai Klang (Malay) |
| Location | |
| Country | Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Kuala Seleh |
| • elevation | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Port Swettenham |
| Length | 120 km (75 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 50 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Gombak River, Damansara River, Penchala River |
| • right | Kerayong River |
The Klang River (Malay: Sungai Klang) flows through Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in Malaysia and eventually flows into the Straits of Malacca. It is approximately 120 km (75 mi) in length and drains a basin of about 1,288 km2 (497 sq mi). The Klang River has 11 major tributaries.
Because the river flows through the densely populated Klang Valley, home to more than four million people, it is heavily polluted. Significant siltation has resulted from human waste discharged by informal settlers along the riverbanks, as well as from certain business establishments lacking septic tanks or sewage treatment facilities. Additional sediment is carried into the river by mudflows from surrounding mountains. Intensive development has also narrowed several stretches of the river, causing it to resemble a large storm drain in some areas. These factors contribute to frequent flash floods in Kuala Lumpur, particularly following heavy rainfall.