The Yellow River Basin, located in northern China, is one of the country's most important river systems. It is named after the yellow silt that gives the river its distinctive color. The basin covers an area of approximately 795,000 square kilometers and is crucial for agriculture, supporting millions of people who rely on its waters for irrigation. The river flows through several provinces, including Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan, before emptying into the Bohai Sea. The Yellow River is often referred to as the "cradle of Chinese civilization" due to its historical significance in the development of early Chinese societies.