The Swat River ( ur, , ps, سوات سیند) is a perennial river in the northern region of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. The river's source is in the high glacial valleys of the
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range in Central and South Asia to the west of the Himalayas. It stretches from central and western Afghanistan, Quote: "The Hindu Kush mountains run along the Afghan border with the North-West Frontier Province ...
mountains, where it then flows into the scenic
Kalam Valley
Kalam ( Kalami, Pashto, & ur, ) is a valley located from Mingora in the northern upper section of Swat valley along the banks of the Swat River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Swat River was formed as a result of the co ...
before forming the spine of the wider
Swat valley
Swat District (, ps, سوات ولسوالۍ, ) is a district in the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. With a population of 2,309,570 per the 2017 national census, Swat is the 15th-largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pro ...
– an important tourist destination in northern Pakistan for its scenic beauty, and former stronghold of the ancient
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 ...
region with numerous ancient Buddhist sites scattered through the region.
Name
The Sanskrit name may mean "clear blue water." Another theory derives the word Swat from the Sanskrit word ''shveta'' (), also used to describe the clear water of the Swat River.
To the ancient Greeks, the river was known as the ''Soastus.''
The Chinese pilgrim
Faxian referred to Swat as the ''Su-ho-to''.
Course
The Swat's source lies in the
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range in Central and South Asia to the west of the Himalayas. It stretches from central and western Afghanistan, Quote: "The Hindu Kush mountains run along the Afghan border with the North-West Frontier Province ...
Mountains, from where it is fed by the glacial waters throughout the year. From the high valleys of Swat Kohistan, the river begins at the confluence of the
Usho, and
Gabral rivers (also known as the Utrar River) at Kalam. From the confluence, the Swat river flows through the narrow gorges of the
Kalam Valley
Kalam ( Kalami, Pashto, & ur, ) is a valley located from Mingora in the northern upper section of Swat valley along the banks of the Swat River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Swat River was formed as a result of the co ...
until the city of
Madyan. From there, the river courses gently for 160 km through the plain areas of the lower
Swat Valley
Swat District (, ps, سوات ولسوالۍ, ) is a district in the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. With a population of 2,309,570 per the 2017 national census, Swat is the 15th-largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pro ...
until
Chakdara. In the extreme southern end of the Swat valley, the river enters a narrow gorge and joins the
Panjkora River
The Panjkora River ( ur, ) is a river in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the northwest of Pakistan. The river runs through the mountainous northern part of the province, and forms the Kumrat Valley. It passes from Dir, Timergara and meet at ...
, at Qalangi before entering the
Peshawar Valley. It finally terminates in
Kabul River, near
Charsadda
Chārsadda ( ps, چارسده; ; ur, ; ) is a town and headquarters of Charsadda District, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. .
Discharge
The average discharge at Munda is 280 cubic metres per second.
Economic impact
Swat River plays an important role in the economy of the valley. Lower reaches of the Swat and
Malakand Valley are irrigated by a series of canals regulated by the Amandara Headworks - built by the British in 1903.
Swats Canal flows under the
Malakand Pass through Benton Tunnel, completed in 1914. Below
Dargai, the Munda Headworks, built by the British in 1921, feed canals that supply numerous smaller canals in the districts of
Charsadda
Chārsadda ( ps, چارسده; ; ur, ; ) is a town and headquarters of Charsadda District, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. ,
Swabi
Swabi ( ps, صوابۍ; ur, ) is a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan,[Mardan
Mardān (Pashto and ; Urdu ; Pashto: ) is a city in the Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Located in the Valley of Peshawar, Mardan is the second-largest city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (after Peshawar). It is a fast-growing ...](_blank)
in the
Peshawar Valley. The river also recharges water wells and springs through seepage.
Hydropower
Swat's waters are used for hydropower generation at the
Jabban Hydropower Plant (completed in 1938), and
Dargai Hydropower Plant (completed in 1952). The
Mohmand Dam, at the lower end of the Swat River's course before it enters into the
Peshawar valley, has an installed generation capacity of 740 MW and is under construction. Proposed hydropower projects along the river's course are Asrit Kedam HPP, Gabral HPP and
Matiltan HPP.
Gallery
File:Kalam 302.jpg, Upper reaches of the Swat River in the Kalam Valley
Kalam ( Kalami, Pashto, & ur, ) is a valley located from Mingora in the northern upper section of Swat valley along the banks of the Swat River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Swat River was formed as a result of the co ...
File:Bahrain of Swat Valley, Pakistan.jpg, The town of Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and a ...
, built along the river
File:01 Swat Valley.jpg, Lower reaches of the Swat River valley
File:Amlok dara stupa2.jpg, The Amluk-Dara stupa, one of many ancient Buddhist sites scattered throughout the river's valley
See also
*
Rigvedic rivers
*
Swat, Pakistan
*
Barikot
References
* Book: Hidden Treasures of Swat,
External links
Swat Valley website
{{Authority control
Rivers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kabul River
Swat District
Rigvedic rivers
Rivers in Buddhism
Rivers of Pakistan