Indus River System Overview

Indus River System

• The Indus River, also known as the Sindhu River, originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through India and Pakistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
• The Indus River is approximately 2,880 kilometers (1,790 miles) long, with 1,114 kilometers (692 miles) flowing through India.
• It originates at Mansarovar Lake in Tibet and ends at the Arabian Sea in Pakistan.
• The Indus River flows through Tibet, India, and Pakistan.
• In India, it flows through the states of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Indus River Tributaries

• The Indus River has five major tributaries: Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
• Each tributary has its own origin, length, and mouth.

Chenab River

• The Chenab River originates at Bara Lacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh, India, and is about 960 kilometers (597 miles) long.
• It flows through the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in India before entering Pakistan.
• The Chenab River is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers.

Jhelum River

• The Jhelum River originates at Verinag Spring in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and is about 725 kilometers (450 miles) long.
• This river flows through Jammu and Kashmir in India before entering Pakistan.
• The Jhelum River is known for its scenic beauty and is a tourist destination.

Ravi River

• The Ravi River originates at Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, India, and is about 720 kilometers (448 miles) long.
• The Ravi River flows through the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in India before entering Pakistan.

Beas River

• The Beas River originates at Beas Kund in Himachal Pradesh, India, and is about 460 kilometers (286 miles) long.
• It flows through the state of Himachal Pradesh in India before merging with the Sutlej River.

Sutlej River

• The Sutlej River originates at Rakshastal Lake in Tibet, China, and is about 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) long.
• It flows through the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in India before entering Pakistan.

Indira Gandhi Canal

• The Indira Gandhi Canal is a major canal in India that originates from the Harike Barrage on the Sutlej River.
• It flows through the states of Punjab and Rajasthan before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
• The canal is about 650 kilometers (404 miles) long.

Indus Water Treaty 1960

• The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan.
• It allocates the waters of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries.
• The treaty allocated 80% of water from the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers to Pakistan and 20% to India.
• The treaty allocated 80% of water from the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers to India and 20% to Pakistan.

Ganga River System

• The Ganga River System is a network of rivers that flow through India and Bangladesh.
• The system includes the Ganga River and its many tributaries.

Ganga River

• The Ganga River is approximately 2,525 kilometers long.
• It originates in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India, and flows through the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

Tributaries of the Ganga River

• Right Bank Tributaries
  • Yamuna River: The largest tributary of the Ganga River, originating in Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, and flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana before joining the Ganga River in Allahabad.
  • Son River: Originates in the Amarkantak region of Madhya Pradesh, and flows through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar before joining the Ganga River in Patna.
  • Dhamodar River: Originates in the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, and flows through Jharkhand and West Bengal before joining the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganga River.
• Left Bank Tributaries
  • Ramganga River: The Ramganga River originates in the Himalayas, flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, and joins the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Ghaghra River: Originates in Nepal, and flows through Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar before joining the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Gandak River: Originates in Nepal, and flows through Nepal and Bihar before joining the Ganga River in Bihar.
  • Kosi River: Originates in Nepal, and flows through Nepal and Bihar before joining the Ganga River in Bihar.

Conclusion

• The Indus River System and the Ganga River System are critical for water resources, agriculture, and livelihoods of millions of people in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Understanding the river systems, tributaries, and their water allocation through treaties like the Indus Water Treaty is crucial for navigating water resource management and ensuring sustainable development in the region.

Explore the fascinating journey of the Indus River, from its origins in the Tibetan Plateau to its mouth at the Arabian Sea. This quiz covers the major tributaries of the Indus, including details about the Chenab River and its significance in the river system. Test your knowledge on the geography and features of one of the longest rivers in the world.