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Shiquanhe

Location

Gar County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet.

Reasons to visit

Shiquan River, also known as Senge Zangbo, is the upper reaches of the Indus River. It flows through the arid and high-cold area of ​​northwest Tibet, with a total length of 430 kilometers, a basin area of ​​27,000 square kilometers, and an annual runoff of about 700 million cubic meters.

Opening Hours

  • all day
Shiquan River, also known as Senge Zangbo, is the upper reaches of the Indus River. It flows through the arid and high-cold area of ​​northwest Tibet, with a total length of 430 kilometers, a basin area of ​​27,000 square kilometers, and an annual runoff of about 700 million cubic meters. It originates from the north side of Mount Kailash, with a source altitude of 5,164 meters above sea level, in the periglacial zone, and flows into the desert area in the lower reaches. It passes through Geji, Shiquanhe Town and other places, and merges with the tributary Gar Zangbo at Zhaxigang. After leaving the country and entering Kashmir, it is called the Indus River. It is an area with less rainfall in Tibet, with an annual precipitation of only 50-80 mm. The coast is mainly characterized by wide valleys, with swamps and hot springs distributed. Hot springs are mostly groundwater that gushes out of the cracks in igneous rocks, which not only replenishes the river, but also increases the temperature of the river water, making some sections of the river rarely freeze in winter. Because it is located in an arid area, the Shiquan River system is not well developed, with an average runoff depth of only 25 mm and an annual runoff of about 700 million cubic meters, making it a river with a smaller runoff among the outflowing rivers in Tibet. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable source of water in the plateau hinterland, where the climate is dry and fresh water is scarce.

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