Major Rivers that Originate from the Tibetan Plateau

 

Northwest of the Himalayas, with an average elevation of over 4,000 meters, Tibet is referred to as “the Land of the Snows.” Given its high altitude terrain and massive snow runoff, the plateau is also called the “Third Pole” on earth because its plentiful mountain glaciers contain the largest reserve of freshwater except for the Arctic and the Antarctic polar regions. The glaciers melt and feed rivers in Tibet, and thereafter, provide the main source of rivers all over China, and even other countries of Asia. In this article, we’ll learn about the major rivers in Tibet and how they play a significant role in the surrounding countries, then you’ll understand why this land also has the nickname “the Water Tower of Asia.”

The Yangtze River
Ranked the longest river in Asia and the third longest river in the world, the Yantse River rises in the Tanggula Mountains, north of Tibet. Interestingly enough, the Yangtze River runs 6,300 kilometers, but it only flows through China until it reaches the eastern coast near Shanghai. However, this fact does not mean that Asia’s longest river isn’t important. The Yangtze River supplies the Chinese people with plenty of resources, making over 400 million people reliant on Tibet for its water source. 

Yangtse River

The Chinese rely on the Yangtze River for agriculture, and especially with its rice fields - about two-thirds of the rice is produced in the Yangtze basin. As much as 40% China's total economy is based on the industries and farming along this river region.

The Yellow River
The second longest river in China, and the six longest river in the world, the Yellow River, is just as impactful as the Yangtze River. The Yellow River’s source is the Bayan Har Mountains (4,600 m), which are on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The river is called the Yellow River because of the large amounts of yellow sediments it carries from the Loess Plateau en route as it traverses the country. 

Yellow River

The Yellow River spreads across China from east to west, and finally empties into the Bohai Sea. With a length of 5,464 kilometers, the river is often referred to as the “Mother River” in China because of its affinity for helping people with their agriculture - the Yellow River basin once was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization attributed to its rich fertile soil and irrigation water.

The Yarlung Tsangpo River
Renowned as Tibet's holiest river, the Yarlung Tsangpo River is also one of the highest rivers worldwide by elevation. Originating from the Angsi Glacier (5,210 m) at the northern foot of the Himalayas in the southwest of Tibet, the river flows from west to east across the plateau, bypasses the beautiful Namcha Barwa Peak at the easternmost end of the the Himalayas, and then enters Bangladesh, finally empties into the Bay of Bengal. 

Yarlung Tsangpo River

The Yarlung Tsangpo River has three major waterfalls in its course, and the water energy reserves are abundant, second only to the Yangtze River in China. Meanwhile, the Yarlung Tsangpo has 4 major tributaries including the longest Nyang River, Lhasa River, Nyangchu River and Parlung Tsangpo. The basin of the Yarlung Tsangpo River is home to most of the population of Tibet. In addition, the the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon at the bend of the the Yarlung Zangbo River is the world's largest and deepest canyon.

The Mekong (Lancang) River
The Mekong River, also called the Lancang River in China, is the seventh-longest river in Asia. Its principal headstream is the Za Qu River rising at an elevation of more than 4,900 meters in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. With a total length of 4,909 kilometers, the river flows through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Due to its unique geographical advantage of "connecting six countries with one river", the Mekong River is known as the "Eastern Danube River." 

Lancang River

The name of the Mekong River is related to Thai, meaning "mother river", as the river nourishes over 60 million people within a watershed of approximately 795,000 square kilometers. People rely on this trans-boundary river for water, transport, agriculture and fishery industry (the Mekong River has the second highest aquatic biodiversity in the world, second only to the Amazon River in South America), making it the most important river of mainland Southeast Asia. 

The Salween (Nu Jiang) River
The Salween River, also known as the Nu Chiang or Nu Jiang in China. Its upper reaches are called "Naqu River" in Tibetan, originating at the southern foot of Tanggula Mountain on the Tibetan Plateau. It is also a trans-boundary river which passes through three countries, with a short section of lower reaches forming the border of Myanmar and Thailand. After flowing into Myanmar, and the river is renamed as the Salween River, and finally flows into the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean.

Salween River

The total length from the source of the river to the estuary in Myanmar is 3,240 kilometers. The drainage area is 325,000 square kilometers, supporting the livelihoods of over 10 million people. It’s also worth noting that the Salween River is the only major river in Southeast Asia that has not built a dam.

The Indus (Shiquan He) River
The Indus River spans the Himalayas and flows through China, India and Pakistan. It is well-known as the key water resources for Pakistan to provide drinking water and irrigation water - without which Pakistan's breadbasket of Punjab province would not be able to sustain agricultural production for national security reasons.

Indus River

Stretching from the mountain springs in the Western Tibet to the Arabian Sea, the Indus River is approximately 3,180 kilometers long and is one of the main rivers in Pakistan and India. As one of the oldest rivers in the world, and its drainage area was once one of the birthplaces of ancient Indus civilization that emerged in the Indian subcontinent between 2500 BC and 1500 BC.

Irrawaddy River
With a length of 2,170 kilometers, the Irrawaddy River is the largest river in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and one of the major rivers in the Indochina Peninsula of Asia. It flows almost straightly from north to south through the center of Myanmar and forms a vast alluvial floodplain (Irrawaddy Delta) before pouring into the Andaman Sea. Its drainage area of 411,000 square kilometers makes the river the most important commercial waterway in Myanmar.

Irrawaddy River

The source of Irrawaddy River separates two branches: the eastern branch is called the Nmai River, which originates from the Languela Glacier in the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya, southeast Tibet (China), while the western branch is called the Maili River, which originates from the mountainous areas of northern Myanmar. The two rivers confluence at the town of Bhamo, about 45km north of Myitkyina City, and then it is renamed the Irrawaddy River.



Conclusion
There are seven major rivers that originate from the Tibetan Plateau, and they do not just stay in Tibet. These rivers flow to other countries and even into the world’s oceans. Many countries are affected by these rivers which are more than mere waterways; they are lifelines for countless communities and ecosystems across Asia. These countries include China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. As such, these nations can attribute Tibet’s mountain runoff to a major water source. 

This article not only broadened our knowledge, but also told why these magnificent waterways and their origins (snow-mountains and glaciers) must be seriously preserved and protected. Lastly, please also be grateful to these great rivers when you have a chance to see them!