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Hukou Waterfall


The Hukou Waterfall, the largest waterfall on the Yellow RiverChina, the second largest waterfall in China (after the Huangguoshu Waterfall), is located at the intersection of Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province, 165 km (103 mi) to the west of Fenxi City, and 50 km (31 mi) to the east of Yichuan. The Hukou Waterfall exists where water in the middle reaches of the Yellow River flows through Jinxia Grand Canyon. The width of the waterfall changes with the season, usually 30 metres (98 ft) wide but increasing to 50 m (164 ft) duringflood season. It has a height of over 20 m (66 ft). When the Yellow River approaches the Hukou Mountain, blocked by mountains on both sides, its width is abruptly narrowed down to 20 m (66 ft) - 30 m (98 ft). The water's velocity increases, and then plunges over a narrow opening on a cliff, forming a waterfall 15 m (49 ft) high and 20 m (66 ft) wide, as if water were pouring down from a huge teapot. Hence it gets the name Hukou (literally, Flask Mouth) Waterfall.
Just below the waterfall, there is a shining stone called guishi (鬼石). What makes the stone mysterious is that it moves up and down according to the water level. No matter how large the water volume, it is still at least partly visible.
In the middle of the river, about 3,000 m (9,843 ft) from the Hukou Waterfall, an enormous rock catches the attention of visitors. When the Yellow River flows to this point, divides into two, rolling and roaring on and on from both sides of the rock before reconverging.