INDUS

  INDUS RIVER SYSTEM

          
INDUS RIVER SYSTEM 
It is one of the largest river basins of the world, covering an area of 11,65,000 sq. km (in Indiait is 321, 289 sq. km and a total length of 2,880 km (in India 1,114 km). The Indus also
known as the Sindhu, is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India. It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu (31°15' N latitude and 81°40' E longitude) in the
Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in the Kailash Mountain range. In Tibet, it is
known as ‘Singi Khamban; or Lion’s mouth. After flowing in the northwest direction
between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, it passes through Ladakh and Baltistan. It cuts
across the Ladakh range, forming a spectacular gorge near Gilgit in Jammu and Kashmir. It enters into Pakistan near Chillar in the Dardistan region. Find out the area known as Dardistan. The Indus receives a number of Himalayan tributaries such as the Shyok, the Gilgit, the Zaskar, the Hunza, the Nubra, the Shigar, the Gasting and the Dras. It finally emerges out of the hills near Attock where it receives the Kabul
river on its right bank. The other important tributaries joining the right bank of the Indus into the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi. The Indus flows in India only through the Leh district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jhelum , an important tributary of the Indus, rises from a spring at Verinag situated
at the foot of the Pir Panjal in the south-eastern part of the valley of Kashmir. It flows through
Srinagar and the Wular lake before entering Pakistan through a deep narrow gorge. It joins
the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan.
The Chenab is the largest tributary of the Indus. It is formed by two streams, the
Chandra and the Bhaga, which join at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh.
Hence, it is also known as Chandrabhaga. The river flows for 1,180 km before entering
into Pakistan.
The Ravi is another important tributary of the Indus. It rises west of the Rohtang pass in
the Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through the Chamba valley of the state. Before
entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab near Sarai Sidhu, it drains the area lying between
the southeastern part of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges.
The Beas is another important tributary of the Indus, originating from the Beas Kund near
the Rohtang Pass at an elevation of 4,000 m above the mean sea level. The river flows
through the Kullu valley and forms gorges at Kati and Largi in the Dhaoladhar range. It
enters the Punjab plains where it meets the Satluj near Harike.
The Satluj originates in the Rakas lake near Mansarovar at an altitude of 4,555 m in Tibet
where it is known as Langchen Khambab. It flows almost parallel to the Indus for about 400
km before entering India, and comes out of agorge at Rupar. It passes through the Shipki La
on the Himalayan ranges and enters the Punjab plains. It is an antecedent river. It is a
very important tributary as it feeds the canal system of the Bhakra Nangal project.
are the Khurram, the Tochi, the Gomal, the Viboa and the Sangar. They all originate in the Sulaiman ranges. The river flows southward and receives ‘Panjnad’ a little above Mithankot.
The Panjnad is the name given to the five rivers of Punjab, namely the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi,
the Chenab and the Jhelum. It finally discharges