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The Three Parallel Rivers Area
Located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, the Three Parallel
Rivers Area is the southern continuation of the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau known as the Hengduan Mountains, consisting of the
Nujiang River (the upper reaches of the Sa erwen River),the
Lancang River (the upper reaches of the Mekong River) and
the Jinsha River (the upper reaches of the Yangtze River)
along with nearby mountains and valleys, and covering a total
area of 41000 sq.km. The elevation difference between the
river and the mountaintop is close to 6000 m. Being the convergence
of Indo and Eurasia plates, and the tectonic Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau, the Three Parallel Rivers Area serves as one of rare
specimens of the earth bearing topographical and geological
features and possessing a large variety of faunae and florae.
As many as 16 ethnic groups make up its population. Also,
it is an uncommon area in the world with many languages, many
religious beliefs and many folk customs. Having met the World
Natural Heritage Criteria Nos.1, 2, 3, 4, the Three Parallel
Rivers Area was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003.
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