Comments on: The Irrawaddy River in winter http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/ New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:39:39 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Moe Aung http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-506392 Moe Aung Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:05:29 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/#comment-506392 Seasonal islands appear in the Irrawaddy during winter 'when the water is small' leaving narrow channels for rivercraft. These islands are a frequent cause for dispute among neighbouring villages over which one has the right to grow crops on them and it could come to blows. Here's some info on gold mining in Kachin State. It's only done along its parent streams. http://burmalibrary.org/docs/gold%20pdf1.pdf Seasonal islands appear in the Irrawaddy during winter ‘when the water is small’ leaving narrow channels for rivercraft. These islands are a frequent cause for dispute among neighbouring villages over which one has the right to grow crops on them and it could come to blows.

Here’s some info on gold mining in Kachin State. It’s only done along its parent streams.
http://burmalibrary.org/docs/gold%20pdf1.pdf

]]> By: Hla Oo http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-506363 Hla Oo Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:09:17 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/#comment-506363 The seasonal differences of water levels in Irrawaddy is much more pronounce in Middle Burma in places like Minbu and Myingyan than in Myitkyina. I used to work as a mechanical engineer for Burma Irrigation Department and was involved in the design, building, and commission of first ever River Water Pumping Project at Kanni near Minbu on the west bank of Irrawaddy in 1980s. We had to mount the large German pumps on the barge floating on the river and the huge reservoir was on the deep bank, and the rubber flexible pipes between the centrifugal pumps and almost vertical, permanent 24" CI pipes to the reservoir were at least 100 foot in length to accommodate the seasonal slacks, if I still remember correctly. The seasonal differences of water levels in Irrawaddy is much more pronounce in Middle Burma in places like Minbu and Myingyan than in Myitkyina. I used to work as a mechanical engineer for Burma Irrigation Department and was involved in the design, building, and commission of first ever River Water Pumping Project at Kanni near Minbu on the west bank of Irrawaddy in 1980s.

We had to mount the large German pumps on the barge floating on the river and the huge reservoir was on the deep bank, and the rubber flexible pipes between the centrifugal pumps and almost vertical, permanent 24″ CI pipes to the reservoir were at least 100 foot in length to accommodate the seasonal slacks, if I still remember correctly.

]]> By: aiontay http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-334429 aiontay Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:43:41 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/#comment-334429 Maybe they're digging for gold after a night at the "Wheel of Fortune". Maybe they’re digging for gold after a night at the “Wheel of Fortune”.

]]> By: Nicholas Farrelly http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-333189 Nicholas Farrelly Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:37:01 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/#comment-333189 Yes, Aiontay, I have seen people hunting for gold with shovels or pans - and have also seen dredging equipment on certain sections of the river. But I have never had the impression that the Irrawaddy was the easiest pickings these days. As you know, much of the major gold extraction goes on elsewhere. Lots of the people who are visible out in the distance in these two pictures are either fishing, bathing or washing clothes. Some may have been hunting for gold, but I didn't get a chance to explore further on this occasion. Best wishes to all. Yes, Aiontay, I have seen people hunting for gold with shovels or pans – and have also seen dredging equipment on certain sections of the river. But I have never had the impression that the Irrawaddy was the easiest pickings these days. As you know, much of the major gold extraction goes on elsewhere.

Lots of the people who are visible out in the distance in these two pictures are either fishing, bathing or washing clothes. Some may have been hunting for gold, but I didn’t get a chance to explore further on this occasion.

Best wishes to all.

]]> By: aiontay http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-333179 aiontay Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:27:31 +0000 http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2008/02/08/the-irrawaddy-river-in-winter/#comment-333179 Do they still dig for gold in the riverbed at Myitkyina? I heard that in the old days the locals looked for the location of whirlpools in the river during the rainy season, and during the dry season dug for gold there since the gold dust in the river debris settled in those whirlpool areas. I guess these days they're just using dredging equipment from China. Do they still dig for gold in the riverbed at Myitkyina? I heard that in the old days the locals looked for the location of whirlpools in the river during the rainy season, and during the dry season dug for gold there since the gold dust in the river debris settled in those whirlpool areas. I guess these days they’re just using dredging equipment from China.

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