Course Amur River

the river rises in hills in western part of northeast china @ confluence of 2 major affluents, shilka river , ergune (or argun) river, @ elevation of 303 metres (994 ft). flows east forming border between china , russia, , makes great arc southeast 400 kilometres (250 mi), receiving many tributaries , passing many small towns. @ huma, joined major tributary, huma river. afterwards continues flow south until between cities of blagoveschensk (russia) , heihe (china), widens joined zeya river, 1 of important tributaries.

the amur arcs east , turns southeast again @ confluence bureya river, not receive significant tributary 250 kilometres (160 mi) before confluence largest tributary, songhua river, @ tongjiang. @ confluence songhua river turns northeast, flowing towards khabarovsk, joins ussuri river , ceases define russia–china border. river spreads out dramatically braided character, flowing north-northeast through wide valley in eastern russia, passing amursk , komsomolsk-on-amur. valley narrows after 200 kilometres (120 mi) , river again flows north onto plains @ confluence amgun river. shortly after, amur turns sharply east , estuary @ nikolayevsk-on-amur, 20 kilometres (12 mi) downstream of flows strait of tartary.