The Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River used to be a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation. Yet the wilderness of the Yellow River is now disappearing as many dams have been constructed across it. [Photo/DEEP]

The Lijiaxia Dam up the Yellow River creates quite a spectacle for the eye. The dam houses a hydroelectricpower station on the border of Jianzha County and Hualong Hui Autonomous County in Qinghai Province. [Photo/DEEP]

 An iron ox on an old ferry on the Yellow River in Shanxi Province. [Photo/DEEP]

The Yellow River is known as the "the cradle of Chinese civilization." In fact, the source of the river has been polluted, with many dams being cut off in the middle and wetlands being destructed. [Photo/DEEP] 

Tibetans fetch water near the source of the Yellow River in Maduo County, Qinghai Province. Many lakes and streams are considered holy by locals. [Photo/DEEP]

Glaciers on the source of the Yellow River are shrinking quickly due to global warming. One glacial lake in the source region of the river has collapsed due to global warming and geological disaster. [Photo/DEEP]

Local herdsmen in the source region of the Yellow River stand against the backdrop of the area’s grasslands. However, fewer domestic animals are kept due to the policy of “re-turn grazing land into grassland.” Some have blamed overgrazing for the environmental crisis of the Yellow River. [Photo/DEEP] 

After the “grazing prohibition,” numbers of herbivorous animals, including the Tibetan Kiang and Goa, have seen rapid growth. Nevertheless, these wild animals remain separated by fences in the region. [Photo/DEEP] 

After the “grazing prohibition,” numbers of herbivorous animals, including the Tibetan Kiang and Goa, have seen rapid growth. Nevertheless, these wild animals remain separated by fences in the region. [Photo/DEEP] 

Waste water from a chemical plant in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is near the border of the Yellow River, is discharged every day. The waste water is released at the foot of Helan Mountain where supervision is not available. The air pollution is so severe based on air monitoring results conducted by local environmental protection bureau that it is no longer safe for people to live there. [Photo/DEEP] 

Construction of the Qingtong Gorge on the Yellow River started in 1958. The gorge can be used for power generation, irrigation and flood control. After more than half a century, the facilities of the hydropower station are outdated. More than 2,000 cracks have been found in the dam and a large silt presence threatens the safety of protective banks and the eastern main canal of the Yellow River. [Photo/DEEP]

Huge pipes transfer water from the Yellow River to the farmlands of Gansu Province. [Photo/DEEP] 

Workers lay pipes in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province. The pipes are used for transferring water from the Yellow River to nearby areas. [Photo/DEEP]

A canyon that sees the Yellow River running through. [Photo/DEEP] 

A water pipe factory in Datong, Shanxi Province, where pipes used for transferring water of the Yellow River are produced. [Photo/DEEP]