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Brahmaputra River -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/12/2017 Brahmaputra River -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia Brahmaputra River Brahmaputra River, Bengali Jamuna, Tibetan Tsangpo, Chinese (Pinyin) Yarlung Zangbo Jiang or (Wade-Giles TABLE OF CONTENTS romanization) Ya-lu-tsang-pu Chiang, major river of Central Introduction and South Asia. It �ows some 1,800 miles (2,900 Physical features km) from its source in the People Himalayas to its Economy con�uence with the Study and exploration Ganges (Ganga) River, after which the mingled Brahmaputra River. waters of the two rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Along its course the Brahmaputra passes through the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and Bangladesh. For most of its length, the river serves as an important inland waterway. It is not, however, navigable between the mountains of Tibet and the plains of India. In its lower course the river is both a creator and a destroyer— depositing huge quantities of fertile alluvial soil but also Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River flowing causing disastrous and frequent �oods. through the Himalayas in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. PHYSICAL FEATURES © Dmitriy Sarbash/Fotolia PHYSIOGRAPHY The Brahmaputra’s source is the Chemayungdung Glacier, which covers the slopes of the Himalayas about 60 miles (100 km) southeast of Lake Mapam in southwestern Tibet. The three headstreams that arise there are the Kubi, the Angsi, and the Chemayungdung. From its source the river runs for nearly 700 miles (1,100 km) in a generally easterly direction between the Great Himalayas range to the south and the Kailas Range to the north. Throughout its upper course the river is generally known as the Tsangpo (“Puri�er”); it is also known by its Chinese name (Yarlung Zangbo) and by other local Tibetan names. In Tibet the Tsangpo receives a number of tributaries. The most important left-bank tributaries are the Raka Zangbo (Raka Tsangpo), which joins the river west of Xigazê (Shigatse), and the Lhasa (Kyi), which �ows past the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and joins the Tsangpo at Qüxü. The Nyang Qu (Gyamda) River joins the river from the north at Zela (Tsela Dzong). On the right bank a second river called the Nyang Qu (Nyang Chu) meets the Tsangpo at Xigazê. https://www.britannica.com/print/article/77154 1/8 10/12/2017 Brahmaputra River -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia After passing Pi (Pe) in Tibet, the river turns suddenly to the north and northeast and cuts a course through a succession of great narrow gorges between the mountainous massifs of Gyala Peri and Namjagbarwa (Namcha Barwa) in a series of rapids and cascades. Thereafter, the river turns south and southwest and �ows through a deep gorge (the “Grand Canyon” of the Shoals in the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River, Tsangpo) across the eastern extremity of the Himalayas Tibet Autonomous Region, China. with canyon walls that extend upward for 16,500 feet © Lukas Hlavac/Shutterstock.com (5,000 metres) and more on each side. During that stretch the river enters northern Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern India, where it is known as the Dihang (or Siang) River, and turns more southerly. The Dihang, winding out of the mountains, turns toward the southeast and descends into a low-lying basin as it enters northeastern Assam state. Just west of the town of Sadiya, the river again turns to the southwest and is joined by two mountain streams, the Lohit and the Dibang. Below that con�uence, about 900 miles (1,450 km) from the Bay of Bengal, the river becomes known conventionally as the Brahmaputra (“Son of Brahma”). In Assam the river is mighty, even in the dry season, and Shaiva temple at Sibsagar near the during the rains its banks are more than 5 miles (8 km) Brahmaputra River, Assam, India. apart. As the river follows its braided 450-mile (700-km) Foto Features course through the valley, it receives several rapidly rushing Himalayan streams, including the Subansiri, Kameng, Bhareli, Dhansiri, Manas, Champamati, Saralbhanga, and Sankosh rivers. The main tributaries from the hills and from the plateau to the south are the Burhi Dihing, the Disang, the Dikhu, and the Kopili. The Brahmaputra enters the plains of Bangladesh after turning south around the Garo Hills below Dhuburi, India. After �owing past Chilmari, Bangladesh, it is joined on its right bank by the Tista River and then follows a 150-mile (240-km) course due south as the Jamuna River. (South of Gaibanda, the Old Brahmaputra leaves the left bank of the main stream and �ows past Jamalpur and Mymensingh to join the Meghna River at Bhairab Bazar.) Tista River, a major tributary of the Before its con�uence with the Ganges, the Jamuna Brahmaputra River, flowing through the https://www.britannica.com/print/article/77154 2/8 10/12/2017 Brahmaputra River -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/12/2017 Brahmaputra River -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia After passing Pi (Pe) in Tibet, the river turns suddenly to Siwalik Hills, … receives the combined waters of the Baral, Atrai, and the north and northeast and cuts a course through a Anupam Manur Hurasagar rivers on its right bank and becomes the point succession of great narrow gorges between the of departure of the large Dhaleswari River on its left bank. mountainous massifs of Gyala Peri and Namjagbarwa A tributary of the Dhaleswari, the Buriganga (“Old Ganges”), �ows past Dhaka, the capital of (Namcha Barwa) in a series of rapids and cascades. Bangladesh, and joins the Meghna River above Munshiganj. Thereafter, the river turns south and southwest and �ows The Jamuna joins with the Ganges north of Goalundo Ghat, below which, as the Padma, their through a deep gorge (the “Grand Canyon” of the combined waters �ow to the southeast for a distance of about 75 miles (120 km). After several Shoals in the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River, Tsangpo) across the eastern extremity of the Himalayas smaller channels branch off to feed the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta to the south, the main Tibet Autonomous Region, China. with canyon walls that extend upward for 16,500 feet body of the Padma reaches its con�uence with the Meghna River near Chandpur and then © Lukas Hlavac/Shutterstock.com (5,000 metres) and more on each side. During that enters the Bay of Bengal through the Meghna estuary and lesser channels �owing through the stretch the river enters northern Arunachal Pradesh state delta. The Meghna forms the eastern limit of the Sundarbans, a vast tract of forest and in northeastern India, where it is known as the Dihang (or Siang) River, and turns more saltwater swamp that constitutes much of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. The growth of the southerly. delta is dominated by tidal processes. The Dihang, winding out of the mountains, turns toward The Ganges-Brahmaputra system has the third greatest average discharge of the world’s rivers the southeast and descends into a low-lying basin as it —roughly 1,086,500 cubic feet (30,770 cubic metres) per second; approximately 700,000 cubic enters northeastern Assam state. Just west of the town of feet (19,800 cubic metres) per second of the total is supplied by the Brahmaputra alone. The Sadiya, the river again turns to the southwest and is joined rivers’ combined suspended sediment load of about 1.84 billion tons per year is the world’s by two mountain streams, the Lohit and the Dibang. highest. Below that con�uence, about 900 miles (1,450 km) from the Bay of Bengal, the river becomes known CLIMATE conventionally as the Brahmaputra (“Son of Brahma”). In The climate of the Brahmaputra valley varies from the harsh, cold, and dry conditions found in Assam the river is mighty, even in the dry season, and Tibet to the generally hot and humid conditions prevailing in Assam state and in Bangladesh. Shaiva temple at Sibsagar near the during the rains its banks are more than 5 miles (8 km) Tibetan winters are severely cold, with average temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C), while summers Brahmaputra River, Assam, India. apart. As the river follows its braided 450-mile (700-km) are mild and sunny. The upper river valley lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, and Foto Features course through the valley, it receives several rapidly precipitation there is relatively light: Lhasa receives about 16 inches (400 mm) annually. rushing Himalayan streams, including the Subansiri, Kameng, Bhareli, Dhansiri, Manas, Champamati, Saralbhanga, and Sankosh rivers. The main The Indian and Bangladeshi parts of the valley are governed by the monsoon (wet, dry) climate, tributaries from the hills and from the plateau to the south are the Burhi Dihing, the Disang, though it is somewhat modi�ed there compared with other parts of the subcontinent; the hot the Dikhu, and the Kopili. season is shorter than usual, and the average annual temperature ranges from 79 °F (26 °C) in Dhuburi, Assam, to 85 °F (29 °C) in Dhaka. Precipitation is relatively heavy, and humidity is high The Brahmaputra enters the plains of Bangladesh after throughout the year. The annual rainfall—between 70 and 150 inches (1,780 and 3,810 mm)— turning south around the Garo Hills below Dhuburi, India. falls mostly between June and early October; however, light rains also fall from March to May. After �owing past Chilmari, Bangladesh, it is joined on its right bank by the Tista River and then follows a 150-mile HYDROLOGY (240-km) course due south as the Jamuna River. (South of Gaibanda, the Old Brahmaputra leaves the left bank of The course of the Brahmaputra has changed continually over time. The most spectacular of the main stream and �ows past Jamalpur and these changes was the eastward diversion of the Tista River and the ensuing development of Mymensingh to join the Meghna River at Bhairab Bazar.) the new channel of the Jamuna, which occurred in 1787 with an exceptionally high �ood in the Tista River, a major tributary of the Before its con�uence with the Ganges, the Jamuna Tista.
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