Brahmaputra River - Informative & researched article on Brahmaputra River
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Home > Reference > Geography of India > Resources in India > Water Resources in India > Indian Rivers > Inland Drainage Basin > Brahmaputra River
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra River is one of the largest rivers in the world. It originates in southwestern Tibet.
  Brahmaputra River Basin   Brahmaputra River Course   Geography of Brahmaputra River
  Geology of Brahmaputra River   History of Brahmaputra River   Origin of Brahmaputra River
  Religious Importance of Brahmaputra River   Transportation and navigation of Brahmaputra River   Tributaries of Brahmaputra River

Brahmaputra RiverThe Brahmaputra River is one of the largest rivers in the world. Origin Of Brahmaputra River is in the southwestern Tibet as the Yarlung River. It flows across southern Tibet where it is known as Dihang. Then it breaks through the Himalayas in great gorge, approximately at 31°30´N and 82°0´E. Its basin covers the areas of Tibet, China, India and Bangladesh. It has a long course through the dry and flat region of southern Tibet before it breaks through the Himalayas.

History Of Brahmaputra River: Brahmaputra River has its history of flow through the dense forests and tribal settlements. A seldom-run river, the Brahmaputra offers beautiful scenery, excellent big white water and great wild life in a less-visited corner of the sub-continent. The Brahmaputra has its source at holy Mount Kailash Mansarover in Tibet, traverses the entire Tibetan plateau, and then makes its great bend into India, cutting into the Himalaya the deepest canyon in the world, a canyon which has as yet dodged away all attempts at exploration.

The chief tributaries of the Brahmaputra River are the Amochu, Raidak, Sankosh, Mans, Bhareli, Dibang and Luhit. The total length of the river from its source in southwestern Tibet to the mouth in the Bay of Bengal is about 2,850 km. Within the Bangladesh territory, Brahmaputra-Jamuna is 276 km long, of which Brahmaputra is only 69 km. It has a long course through the dry and flat region of southern Tibet before it breaks through the Himalayas near the Namcha Barwa peak at about 7,755m. Its chief tributaries in India are the Amochu, Raidak, Sankosh, Mans, Bhareli, Dibang and Luhit. The course of the Brahmaputra in Tibet is known as the Tsang-po. Here the river flows through the plain, which is south of Lhasa. The flow of the river here is sluggish.

The geography of Brahmaputra River indicates extensive flood plains and fresh alluvium deposits. The Brahmaputra River is one of the major rivers in Eastern India. During the monsoon season or the months of June-October, floods seem to be a common occurrence in the geographical area of Brahmaputra River. Deforestation in the Brahmaputra watershed has resulted in increased siltation levels that result in flash floods, and soil erosion in critical downstream habitat, such as the Kaziranga National Park in middle Assam.

The geology of River Brahmaputra suggests the fertile alluvial plains of the basin. After the origin of Brahmaputra River in southwestern Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, it flows across southern Tibet to penetrate through the Himalayas in great canyons and into Arunachal Pradesh where it is known as Dihang River. The Brahmaputra River flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna. There it gets together with the Ganga to form an enormous delta.

The religious importance of Brahmaputra River starts from its origin at mount Kailash, until the lower course. The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of Asia possessing mythological importance. The term " Brahmaputra" means "son of Brahma" in Sanskrit. It originates from Mount Kailash in the Himalayan Mountains in western Tibet, passes through China and then flows for 2900kms into the sea in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. It is called Tsangpo in Tibet, Luit or Brahmaputra in Assam, Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh and one of its main branches is called Jamuna in Bangladesh. Another term for this river in sanskrit is the Lauhitya. The Bodos call this river Bhullumbutter.

The Brahmaputra River course covers three nations, Tibet, India and Bangladesh.

The Brahmaputra river course in Tibet signifies its origin or the upper course. The Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra River originates in the Jima Yangzong glacier near Mount Kailash in the northern Himalayas. It then flows east for about 1700 km, at an average height of 4000 m, and is thus the highest of the major rivers in the world. At its easternmost point, the river bends around Mt. Namcha Barwa, and forms the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon, which is considered the deepest in the world.

Transportation and navigation of Brahmaputra River have been improvised after Indian Independence. Until Indian independence in 1947, the Brahmaputra River was used as a chief waterway. After the 1990s, the river stretch between Sadiya and Dhubri in India was stated as National Waterway No.2, and it provides services for goods transportation.

The Brahmaputra River basin includes rivers like Brahmaputra River, Lohit River, Burhidihing River, Dihing River, Kameng River, Manas River, Sanksh, Yamuna, Teesta River, Rangeet River, Lachen River, Lachung River, Darla River and Jaldhaka River.

Most of the Indian and Bangladeshi rivers bear female names, this river has a rare male name, as it means `son of Brahma` in Sanskrit. The lower reaches of the river are sacred for the Hindus.

(Last Updated on : 19/01/2009)
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