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Brahmaputra River

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Brahmaputra is a mighty river that travels through many lands. It flows through southwestern China, northeastern India, and Bangladesh.

Brahmaputra-river-basin
Brahmaputra-river-basin

This river is very large and important to the world. It is the 15th longest river on Earth. It is also the 9th largest river when looking at how much water it carries.

Brahmaputra from ganden3
Brahmaputra from ganden3

The river has many different names depending on where you are. In Tibet, people call it the Yarlung Tsangpo. In Bangladesh, it is known as the Jamuna.

Bangladesh LOC 1996 map
Bangladesh LOC 1996 map

The river begins its long journey in a high place. It starts near Mount Kailash in the Tibet region. The water comes from the Angsi Glacier.

From there, the river flows east through Tibet. It passes by the capital city of Lhasa. Eventually, the river cuts through the huge Himalayan mountains. It moves through very deep and narrow canyons. One of these is the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. After the mountains, the river turns south and enters India.

Brahmaputra River SPOT 1125
Brahmaputra River SPOT 1125

As the river moves into India, it changes a lot. It enters the state of Arunachal Pradesh. There, it is called the Siang or Dihang River.

Sunset in Dibrugarh
Sunset in Dibrugarh

When it reaches the Assam Valley, the river becomes very wide. In some parts of Assam, it is as wide as 9.5 kilometers. The river is also known for being a braided river. This means it splits into many smaller paths that weave together. One special part of the river forms Majuli. This is the largest river island in the whole world.

Bank of Brahmaputra river-Guwahati 2
Bank of Brahmaputra river-Guwahati 2

History tells us that the river's path has changed over time. For a long time, people did not know where the river started. Explorers finally figured out its upper course between 1884 and 1886.

Silhouette of a fisherman on boat during sunset at Brahmaputra River, Assam, India
Silhouette of a fisherman on boat during sunset at Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

In the year 1762, a huge earthquake happened. This earthquake caused the river to switch its path. It moved south and created the Jamuna channel. This change happened because the land moved during the quake. The river's path is always shifting because of the moving earth.

Bangladesh tmo 2011313
Bangladesh tmo 2011313

Life near the Brahmaputra is both beautiful and difficult. The river is very useful for farming and traveling. People use the water for irrigation to grow food.

Naokhel At sualkuchi
Naokhel At sualkuchi

However, the river can also cause big problems. In the spring, the snow in the mountains melts. This extra water makes the river rise very fast. This can lead to huge floods that wash over the land.

Brahmaputra Plains in Goalpara District of Assam 857
Brahmaputra Plains in Goalpara District of Assam 857

The river is also one of the few that has a tidal bore. This is a special wave that moves up the river. Even with these changes, the river remains a vital part of the world.

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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Yarlong Tsangpo.jpg
Yarlong Tsangpo.jpg
File:Brahmaputra from ganden3.jpg
Brahmaputra from ganden3.jpg
File:Brahmaputra-river-basin.png
Brahmaputra-river-basin.png
File:Sunset in Dibrugarh.jpg
Sunset in Dibrugarh.jpg
File:Bank of Brahmaputra river-Guwahati 2.jpg
Bank of Brahmaputra river-Guwahati 2.jpg
File:Bangladesh LOC 1996 map.jpg
Bangladesh LOC 1996 map.jpg
File:Bangladesh tmo 2011313.jpg
Bangladesh tmo 2011313.jpg
File:Naokhel At sualkuchi.jpg
Naokhel At sualkuchi.jpg
File:Brahmaputra Plains in Goalpara District of Assam 857.jpg
Brahmaputra Plains in Goalpara District...
File:Brahmaputra River SPOT 1125.jpg
Brahmaputra River SPOT 1125.jpg
File:Brahmaputra system.png
Brahmaputra system.png
File:1776 Rennell - Dury Wall Map of Bihar and Bengal, India - Geographicus - BaharBengal-dury-1776.jpg
1776 Rennell - Dury Wall Map of Bihar and...

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