江河源头的确定历来存在争议。根据现代几次重要的科学考察成果,分析了长江、黄河和澜沧江源头争议的原因,参照国际著名大河河源确定方法,探索江河源头确定原则和方法。分析结果表明:河流长度、走向、流量、流域面积和河势是确定河源的自然因素,目前争议的焦点是谁为主要因素。建议河流长度和走向为确定河源的主要因素,流量和河势作为次一级因素,而约定俗成等文化因素对于江河源头确定也有重要影响。

The determining of river’s headstream has always been controversial. According to the findings of several important recent scientific investigations, we analyse the causes of controversy in determining the river sources of Yangtze River, Yellow River and Lantsang River. Moreover in line with the methods of determining the river sources of international famous rivers, we explore the principles and methods of determining river source. We conclude that river length, direction, flow, watershed area and river regime are natural factors to determine the river source. At present the focus of controversy lies in the main factor. We suggest river length and direction as the main factors, flow and river regime as secondary factors, and conventional custom and cultural factors also have important influence on the determination.