The Yarkand River (or Yarkent River, Yeh-erh-ch'iang Ho) is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the ...
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 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 t ...
range and flows into the
Tarim River
The Tarim River ( zh, p=Tǎlǐmù Hé, c=塔里木河; ug, تارىم دەرياسى, Tarim deryasi), known in Sanskrit as the Śītā, is an endorheic river in Xinjiang, China. It is the principal river of the Tarim Basin, a desert region of ...
or Neinejoung
River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the ...
, 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 ...
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 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 t ...
range in
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
–
Sinkiang border region, south of the
Kashgar Prefecture
Kashgar Prefecture, also known as Kashi Prefecture, is located in southwestern Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), ...
.
It flows roughly due north until reaching the foot of the
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains ( zh, s=昆仑山, t=崑崙山, p=Kūnlún Shān, ; ug, كۇئېنلۇن تاغ تىزمىسى / قۇرۇم تاغ تىزمىسى ) constitute one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending for more than . In the br ...
. 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 ...
, 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 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
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 ...
. Continuing northeast, it receives the
Kashgar River from the west, eventually draining into the Shangyou Reservoir.
Even though the river originally drained into the
Tarim River
The Tarim River ( zh, p=Tǎlǐmù Hé, c=塔里木河; ug, تارىم دەرياسى, Tarim deryasi), known in Sanskrit as the Śītā, is an endorheic river in Xinjiang, China. It is the principal river of the Tarim Basin, a desert region of ...
, 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
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 tow ...
,
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, als ...
,
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 Autonomou ...
,
Makit and
Bachu
Maralbexi County (Maralbeshi, Maralbishi, transliterated from ; ), Bachu County (), and ) the former long Chinese name as well, is located in the southwest of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China and is under ...
counties. It also irrigates ten mission fields in the Agricultural Division.
History
The ancient
Silk Route
The Silk Road () was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and reli ...
into South Asia followed the Yarkand River valley. From
Aksu Aksu or Aqsu (Turkic: "white water") may refer to:
People
* Aksu Hanttu (born 1979), Finnish musician, record producer and sound engineer
* Aksu (surname)
Places
Armenia
* Akhsu, Armenia
Azerbaijan
* Agsu Rayon, a district of Azerbaijan
** Ags ...
, 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 Autonomou ...
(Shache). From Yarkand, the route crossed the
Bolor-Tagh mountains through the river valleys of Yarkand and Tashkurgan to reach the town of
Tashkurgan. 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 t ...
mountains through one of the western passes (
Kilik,
Mintaka
Mintaka , designation Delta Orionis (δ Orionis, abbreviated Delta Ori, δ Ori) and 34 Orionis (34 Ori), is a multiple star system some 1,200 light-years from the Sun in the constellation of Orion. Together with Alnitak (Zeta Or ...
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 ...
in northern
Kashmir. 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 ...
script into the Tarim Basin, and the Buddhist monks followed in their wake, spreading Buddhism. The Chinese Buddhist traveller
Fa Xian
Faxian (法顯 ; 337 CE – c. 422 CE), also referred to as Fa-Hien, Fa-hsien and Sehi, was a Chinese Buddhist monk and translator who traveled by foot from China to India to acquire Buddhist texts. Starting his arduous journey about age 60, ...
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 Plate ...
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
Bolor-Tagh is an old name for the longitudinal range in eastern Pamir Mountains (ancient Mount Imeon) extending from Kunlun Mountains in the south to the east extremity of the Trans-Alai, Trans-Alay Range in the north. Highest peaks Kongur Tagh ( ...
). 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, a ...
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
Sultan Said Khan (; 1487–1533) ruled the Yarkent Khanate from September 1514 to July 1533. He was born in the late 15th century in Moghulistan, and he was a direct descendant of the first Moghul Khan, Tughlugh Timur, who had founded the stat ...
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 ...
, 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