BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER SYSTEM

PRERNA FOR IAS

BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER SYSTEM

1. Brahmaputra River System

The Brahmaputra is one of Asia's largest and most powerful river systems. It flows through three countries: China (Tibet), India, and Bangladesh. Originating in the Tibetan Plateau, it travels approximately 2,900 kilometers before entering the Bay of Bengal. The river is known by different names in different regions, including Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam, and Jamuna in Bangladesh. It carries enormous volumes of water and sediment, making it one of the world's great rivers. The Brahmaputra supports agriculture, transportation, fisheries, biodiversity, and millions of people living along its banks.

2. Origin and Course of the Brahmaputra

The Brahmaputra originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet at an elevation of about 5,300 meters. In Tibet, it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo and flows eastward across the Tibetan Plateau. Near Namcha Barwa, it takes a dramatic U-turn through a deep gorge before entering India through Arunachal Pradesh. It flows through the Assam Valley, where it becomes one of the world's widest rivers. After entering Bangladesh as the Jamuna, it merges with the Ganga and Meghna rivers before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Its journey covers diverse landscapes and climatic regions.

3. Tibet Section – The Tsangpo

In Tibet, the Brahmaputra is called the Yarlung Tsangpo. It originates near Lake Mansarovar and flows eastward for nearly 1,600 kilometers across the Tibetan Plateau. The river passes through a high-altitude cold desert region charact