The Yarkand River (or Yarkent River, Yeh-erh-ch'iang Ho) is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...
in the
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
of western China. It originates in the
Siachen Muztagh
__NOTOC__
The Siachen Muztagh is a remote subrange of the eastern Karakoram Range. Close to 60% is in area controlled by China, 40% in area controlled by India. Pakistan claims the Indian-controlled portion as part of the Siachen Conflict. ...
in a part of the
Karakoram
The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir region spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the ...
range and flows into the
Tarim River or Neinejoung
River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...
, with which it is sometimes identified. However, in modern times, the Yarkand river drains into the Midstream Reservoir and exhausts its supply without reaching the Tarim river. The Yarkand River is approximately in length, with an average discharge of .
A part of the river valley is known to the
Kyrgyz people
The Kyrgyz people (also spelled Kyrghyz, Kirgiz, and Kirghiz; ) are a Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is the nation state of the Kyrgyz people and significant diaspora can be found in China, Russia, and Uzbekistan. Th ...
as Raskam Valley, and the upper course of the river itself is called the Raskam River. Another name of the river is Zarafshan. The area was once claimed by the ruler of
Hunza.
Course
The river originates from the
Siachen Muztagh
__NOTOC__
The Siachen Muztagh is a remote subrange of the eastern Karakoram Range. Close to 60% is in area controlled by China, 40% in area controlled by India. Pakistan claims the Indian-controlled portion as part of the Siachen Conflict. ...
in the
Karakoram
The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir region spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the ...
range in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
–
Sinkiang border region, south of the
Kashgar Prefecture
Kashgar Prefecture, also known as Kashi Prefecture, is located in southwestern Xinjiang, China, located in the Tarim Basin region (roughly the southern half of Xinjiang). It has an area of and 4,499,158 inhabitants at the 2015 census with a pop ...
.
It flows roughly due north until reaching the foot of the
Kunlun Mountains. Then it flows northwest where it receives waters from the
Shaksgam River
The Shaksgam River (, hi, शक्सगाम नदी, translit=Shaksgām Nadi, ur, دریائے شکسگام, translit=Daryá-e-Shaksgám) is a left tributary of the Yarkand River. The river is also known as the Kelechin River ( zh, 克勒 ...
, which originates from the many glaciers draining the north flanks of the great Karakorum range. The Shaksgam River is also known in its lower course (before falling into the Yarkand) as the Keleqing River ().
Then Yarkand River flows north, through the
Bolor-Tagh mountains parallel to the
Tashkurgan
Tashkurgan ( ug, تاشقورغان بازىرى; zh, s=塔什库尔干镇, p=Tǎshíkù'ěrgān Zhèn; ) is a town in the far northwest of China, close to the country's border with Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is the principal to ...
valley, eventually receiving the waters of the
Tashkurgan River from the west. It is then impounded by the Aratax dam, which was completed in 2019 to store for flood control, irrigation and hydropower generation.
After this, the river turns northeast and enters the
Tarim Basin
The Tarim Basin is an endorheic basin in Northwest China occupying an area of about and one of the largest basins in Northwest China.Chen, Yaning, et al. "Regional climate change and its effects on river runoff in the Tarim Basin, China." Hyd ...
, forming a rich oasis that waters the
Yarkant county. Continuing northeast, it receives the
Kashgar River
The Kashgar (or ''Kaxgar'', in its upper course ''Kyzylsuu'', ug, قەشقەر دەرياسى, Qeshqer deryasi; ) is a river in the Xinjiang province of the People's Republic of China. It has its sources in the eastern parts of the Pamir Mount ...
from the west, eventually draining into the Shangyou Reservoir.
Even though the river originally drained into the
Tarim River, development along its course in recent decades has depleted its flow. During the period 1986 to 2000, it flowed into the Tarim River only once.
The drainage area of Yarkand is 108,000 sq. km. It irrigates areas in
Taxkorgan,
Yecheng,
Poskam
Poskam County, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Posgam, ), also Zepu County () is a county in Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. The county is located on the southern bank of the Yarkand River, al ...
,
Yarkand
Yarkant County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also Shache County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also transliterated from Uyghur as Yakan County, is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous ...
,
Makit and
Bachu counties. It also irrigates ten mission fields in the Agricultural Division.
History
The ancient
Silk Route into South Asia followed the Yarkand River valley. From
Aksu, it went via
Maral Bashi (Bachu) on the bank of the Yarkand River, to the city of
Yarkand
Yarkant County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also Shache County,, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency also transliterated from Uyghur as Yakan County, is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous ...
(Shache). From Yarkand, the route crossed the
Bolor-Tagh mountains through the river valleys of Yarkand and Tashkurgan to reach the town of
Tashkurgan
Tashkurgan ( ug, تاشقورغان بازىرى; zh, s=塔什库尔干镇, p=Tǎshíkù'ěrgān Zhèn; ) is a town in the far northwest of China, close to the country's border with Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is the principal to ...
. From there, it crossed the
Karakoram
The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir region spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the ...
mountains through one of the western passes (
Kilik,
Mintaka or
Khunjerab) to reach
Gilgit
Gilgit (; Shina: ; ur, ) is the capital city of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. The city is located in a broad valley near the confluence of the Gilgit River and the Hunza River. It is a major tourist destination in Pakistan, serving as a ...
in northern
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
. Then it went on to
Gandhara
Gandhāra is the name of an ancient region located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, more precisely in present-day north-west Pakistan and parts of south-east Afghanistan. The region centered around the Peshawar Val ...
(the vicinity of present day
Peshawar
Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...
).
The Indian merchants from Gandhara introduced the
Kharosthi
The Kharoṣṭhī script, also spelled Kharoshthi (Kharosthi: ), was an ancient Indo-Iranian script used by various Aryan peoples in north-western regions of the Indian subcontinent, more precisely around present-day northern Pakistan and e ...
script into the Tarim Basin, and the Buddhist monks followed in their wake, spreading Buddhism. The Chinese Buddhist traveller
Fa Xian is believed to have followed this route.
With the Arab conquest of
Khurasan
Greater Khorāsān,Dabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 or Khorāsān ( pal, Xwarāsān; fa, خراسان ), is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plat ...
in 651 AD, the main Silk route to western Asia was interrupted, and the importance of the South Asian route increased. Gilgit as well as Baltistan find increased mention in the Chinese chronicles (under the names Great ''Po-lu'' and Little ''Po-lu'', from the old name
Bolor). China invaded Gilgit in 747 AD to secure its routes to Gandhara and prevent Tibetan influence. But the effects of the invasion appear to have been short-lived, as Turkic rule took hold in Gilgit.
It is possible that alternative trade routes developed after this time between Yarkand and
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu a ...
via the
Karakash Valley. The region of
Hunza adjoining Xinjiang, which contained the passes through the Karakoram range, began to split off from Gilgit as an independent state around 997, and internecine wars with Gilgit as well as neighbouring
Nagar
Nagar ( -nagar) can refer to:
Places Bangladesh
* Nagar, Rajshahi Division, a village
* Nagar, Barisal Division, a settlement
India
* Nagar taluka, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra State
* Nagar, Murshidabad, a village in West Bengal
* Nagar, Rajasthan ...
became frequent. The rising importance of the Ladakh route is illustrated by the raids into Ladakh conducted by
Mirza Abu Bakr Dughlat who took control of Kashgaria in 1465. His successor,
Sultan Said Khan launched a proper invasion of Ladakh and Kashmir in 1532, led by his general
Mirza Haidar Dughlat.
Gallery
File:STANFORD(1917) p61 PLATE19. SINKIANG (14597194848).jpg, Map including Zerafshan R. and Raskem daria (1917)
File:Tarimrivermap.png, Rivers of the Tarim Basin
File:Chagatai Khanate (1490).png, Moghulistan (Chagatai Khanate), 1490 AD
File:Map India and Pakistan 1-250,000 Tile NJ 43-15 Shimshal.jpg, Map including part of the Yarkand River (labeled as YĀRKAND RIVER) ( AMS, 1955)
File:Txu-oclc-6654394-nj-43-5th-ed.jpg, Map including the Yarkand River (labeled as Yeh-erh-ch'iang Ho) and surrounding region from the International Map of the World ( AMS, 1966)
File:NJ-43-16 Hsi-Ti-La, China.jpg, Map including part of the Yarkand River (Yeh-erh-ch'iang Ho) (ACIC
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is a law enforcement agency established by the Australian federal government on 1 July 2016, following the merger of the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and CrimTrac. It has specialist i ...
, 1969)
File:Un-kashmir-jammu.png, Map including the upper reaches of the Yarkand River
File:叶尔羌河 - Yarkand River - 2015.04 - panoramio.jpg, Yarkand River
File:叶尔羌河边的羊群 - Sheep on Yarkand River Bank - 2015.04 - panoramio.jpg, Sheep on the bank of the Yarkand River
File:A Ferry on the Yarkand River.jpg, Ferry on the Yarkand River (1915)
File:兰干桥 - Langar Bridge - 2015.04 - panoramio.jpg, Langar Bridge () on the Yarkand River
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Yarkand Riverplotted on OpenStreetMap.
{{commonscat
Rivers of Xinjiang
Sites along the Silk Road
Karakoram