Chindwin

Chindwin ချင်းတွင်းမြစ်
The Chindwin at Homalin. The smaller, meandering Uyu River can be seen joining the Chindwin.
Country	Burma
Basin features
Main source	Hukawng Valley, Kachin State 1,134 m (3,720 ft)
River mouth	Irrawaddy River 55 m (180 ft) 21°28′26″N 95°16′53″E / 21.47389°N 95.28139°E / 21.47389; 95.28139Coordinates: 21°28′26″N 95°16′53″E / 21.47389°N 95.28139°E / 21.47389; 95.28139
Physical characteristics
Length	1,207 km (750 mi)

The Chindwin River (Burmese: ချင်းတွင်းမြစ်, IPA: [tɕɪ́ɴdwɪ́ɴ mjɪʔ]) is a river in Burma (Myanmar), and the largest tributary of the country's chief river the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy). It flows entirely within Burma and is known as Ning-thi to the Meiteis.

The Chindwin originates in the broad Hukawng Valley of Kachin State of Burma, roughly 26°26′18″N 96°33′32″E / 26.43833°N 96.55889°E / 26.43833; 96.55889, where the Tanai, the Tabye, the Tawan, and the Taron (also known as Turong or Towang) rivers meet.

The headwaters of the Tanai are at about 25°30′N 97°0′E / 25.500°N 97.000°E / 25.500; 97.000 on the Shwedaunggyi peak of the Kumon range, 12 miles north of Mogaung. It flows due north for the first part until it reaches the Hukawng Valley. In 2004, the government established the world's largest tiger preserve in the Hukawng Valley, the Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of approximately 2,500 square miles (6,500 km²); later, the Sanctuary was extended to 21,800 km², making it the largest protected area in mainland Southeast Asia. The river then turns to the west and flows through the middle of the plain, joined by the Tabye, the Tawan, and the Taron rivers from the right bank. These rivers drain the mountain ranges to the north and northeast of the Hukawng valley.