Rivers & Glaciers of Jammu & Kashmir PDF

**Rivers & Glaciers of Jammu & Kashmir** Nature has bestowed J&K with rich freshwater resources especially snow and glaciers. **River systems** There is a good network of river system in the state. The Jammu region is drained by river Chenab and Tawi and Kashmir valley by river Jhelum and its tri...

**Rivers & Glaciers of Jammu & Kashmir** Nature has bestowed J&K with rich freshwater resources especially snow and glaciers. **River systems** There is a good network of river system in the state. The Jammu region is drained by river Chenab and Tawi and Kashmir valley by river Jhelum and its tributaries. All these rivers find their resource from snow and glacier melts runoff from upper Himalayan region. **Jhelum River** The **Jhelum River** is a river in the northern [Indian subcontinent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent). It originates at [Verinag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verinag) and flows through the Indian-administered territory of [Jammu and Kashmir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(union_territory)), into Pakistani-administered [Azad Kashmir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Kashmir), then the Pakistani province of [Punjab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_Pakistan). It is the westernmost of the [five rivers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab#Political_geography) of the [Punjab region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab), and flows through the [Kashmir Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_Valley). It is a [tributary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tributary) of the [Chenab River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenab_River) and has a total length of about 725 kilometres  **Tawi** is a [river](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River) that flows through the city of [Jammu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu) in the Indian [union territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_territory) of [Jammu and Kashmir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(union_territory)). The Tawi is a major left bank tributary of the river [Chenab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenab). Tawi river is considered sac red and holy, as are most rivers in India. - - - The **Chenab River** is a major river that flows in [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India) and [Pakistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan), and is one of the 5 major rivers of the [Punjab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab) region. It is formed by the union of two headwaters, Chandra and Bhaga, which rise in the upper [Himalayas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas) in the [Lahaul region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahaul_and_Spiti_district) of [Himachal Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh), India. The Chenab flows through the [Jammu region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_Division) of Jammu and Kashmir, India into the plains of [Punjab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_Pakistan), Pakistan, before ultimately flowing into the [Indus River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_River). The waters of the Chenab were allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the [Indus Waters Treaty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Waters_Treaty). India is allowed non-consumptive uses such as power generation. The Chenab River is extensively used in Pakistan for irrigation. **A glacier is a large mass of ice which moves slowly. Glaciers are found near the poles and at high altitudinal mountains.** **Glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir** Glaciers of Jammu and Kashmir include Machoi and Shafat glaciers in the north-eastern Himlayan range and the most notable and the world's second-largest glacier, Siachen. Some of Kashmir's other important glaciers include Batura, Khurdopin, Hispar, Biafo, Baltoro, Diamir and Chomolungma located in the Karakoram mountain range. Among the must-see glaciers in J&K are Machoi, Kolahoi, Thajiwas, Drang-Drujng and Shafat. **Kolahoi** **Glacier** located in the north-western Himalayan Range 26 kms north of Pahalgam and 16 kms south of Sonamarg, is the largest glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a valley glacier which lies at 4700 meters. Kolahoi glacier is the main source of the Lidder river. Its waters later become the tributaries of the Jhelum River. The water serves the Anantnag district and finally flows into the Jhelum River near Khanabad Anantnag. The locals refer to Kolahoi glacier as the goddess of light as it is the main source of major rivers like Jhelum and Lidder **Baltoro Glacier** It is located in the Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir, on the Southern slopes of the Central Karakoram range. It is the second largest glacier of the Himalayan region, having a length of 62 km. This glacier provides water to Shigar river which is a tributary of Indus river. This glacier can be accessed via Skardu in Ladakh. **Biafo Glacier** This glacier is located in the Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir (Ladakh), on the Southern slopes of the Karakoram range. It is about 60 km in length. Shigar river gets water by main stream of this glacier. This glacier is fed by small valley glaciers. This region is devoid of vegetation. **Nubra Glacier** It is located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, on the Southern slopes of the Karakoram range. Nubra river gets water from this glacier which ultimately flows into the Shyok river. Along the edges and the junction of the tributary glaciers and the main glacier, lateral moraines are found. This region is above the snow line, thus, no vegetation is found here. **Siachen Glacier** ** **It is located in the North Central part of Jammu and Kashmir on the Northern slopes of the Karakorm range. It is the largest glacier in the world outside the Polar region, having a length of 72 km. This glacier provides water to Muztagh or Shaksgam river that flows parallel to Karakoram range before entering into Tibet.