Amur

or Amoor, a large river of eastern Asia, emptying into the sea of Okhotsk. It ranks with the Volga, having a total length of about 1,500 miles. The Russians made some attempts in the seventeenth century to obtain possession of this river, but abandoned it to the Chinese. In 1854 expeditions were undertaken by Russia with the view of exploring and taking possession. One portion after another passed under Russian control until, in 1900, Russia took formal possession of the entire region north of the Amur. Russia desired to acquire Manchuria, on the south bank, but was frustrated by Japan. The river is navigable for steamers of large size, which, however, encounter some difficulty in passing low sandbanks at the mouth. The territory drained by the Amur contains no less than 600,000 square miles, surpassing in that respect the largest river basin of Europe. It consists of mountain ranges, immense and valuable forests, and extensive, fertile plains. The winters are severe. Fur-bearing animals and fish are abundant. The Russian portion of the valley is for the most part thinly populated. See Siberia; Manchuria