Two
streams namely Chandra and Bhaga rise on the opposite sides of the
Baralacha pass at an elevation of 4,891 metres and meet at Tandi at an
elevation of 2,286 metres to form the river Chenab. The Chenab rises
from the South-East and Bhaga from the North-West of the Baralacha pass.
It enters Pangi valley of Chamba district near Bhujind and leaves the
district at Sansari Nala to enter Podar valley of Kashmir. It flows in
Himachal for 122 km. With its total length of 1,200 km., it has a
catchment area of 61,000 sq. km., out of which 7,500 sq. km. lie in
Himachal Pradesh. It is the largest river of Himachal Pradesh in terms
of volume of waters. The Chenab valley is a structual trough formed by
the great Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges.
Important Tributaries of river Chenab :
Bhaga River :
This
river originates from the Lahaul valley. A number of snowfed rivers
join it during its course, before it joins the Chandra stream at Tandi.
From its origin it flows in South-South-Westerly direction as a raging
torrent before joining the river Chandra. U shaped valleys, waterfalls,
glaciers and moraines characterises the upper catchment of the Bhaga
river. The entire tract is devoid of a vegetative cover. The discharge
of this river increases during the summer months, when the snow on the
high mountains start melting.
Chandra River :
It
rises in the snows lying at the base of the main Himalayan range in
Lahaul-Spiti district. Thereafter it flows for a considerable distance
along the base of thin range in the South-East direction, before making a
180° turn and taking a South-West course in Spiti valley. the entire
area is a vast cold desert that receives little or no rain as it lies in
the rain shadow of the Pir Panjal range lying towards South. The
important human settlement along the river is Koksar.
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