Gilgit River
River in Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gilgit River (Urdu: دریائے گلگت) is a tributary of the Indus River, flowing through Gilgit Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.[1] The upper sections of the Gilgit River are also referred to as the Gupis River and Ghizer River.
| Gilgit River | |
|---|---|
 | |
.png) Course of the Gilgit River | |
| Native name | دریائے گلگت (Urdu) |
| Location | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Autonomous territory | Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Districts | Gupis-Yasin, Ghizer and Gilgit |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 35°44′31″N 74°37′29″E |
| Length | 240 km |
Basin size | 26,159 km2 (10,100 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Gilgit Gauging Station, Gilgit |
| • average | 293 m3/s (10,300 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 83 m3/s (2,900 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 868 m3/s (30,700 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Alam Bridge Station, Jaglot |
| • average | 617 m3/s (21,800 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 66 m3/s (2,300 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 4,834 m3/s (170,700 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Indus→ Arabian Sea |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Hunza River |
| Waterbodies | Shandur Lake, Khukush Lake |
Course
Gilgit River flows through various districts including Gupis-Yasin, Ghizer and Gilgit. It originates from Shandur Lake and proceeds to join the Indus River near the towns of Juglot and Bunji. During its course, Yasin River from Yasin Valley and Karambar/Ishkoman River from Karambar Lake in Ishkoman Valley join it. Hunza River is its largest tributary, contributing over half of its mean annual volume. The confluence of Gilgit River with Indus marks the meeting point of three prominent mountain ranges: the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas, and the Karakoram.[2]
Hydrology
The catchment area of Gilgit River is 26,159 km2 (10,100 sq mi).[3] Before the confluence of Gilgit River with Hunza River, its mean annual discharge for the period 1981–2010 at Gilgit Gauging Station is 293 m3/s (10,300 cu ft/s), with a minimum and maximum discharge of 83 m3/s (2,900 cu ft/s) and 868 m3/s (30,700 cu ft/s), respectively.[3] After receiving inflow from Hunza, its mean annual discharge for the period 1981–2015 at Alam Bridge Gauging Station was 617 m3/s (21,800 cu ft/s), with a minimum and maximum discharge of 66 m3/s (2,300 cu ft/s) and 4,834 m3/s (170,700 cu ft/s), respectively.[1]
