Geography of Ladakh
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Ladakh is an administrative territory of India that has been under its control since 1947. The geographical region of Ladakh union territory is the highest altitude plateau region in India (much of it being over 3,000 m), incorporating parts of the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River and valley.
Political geography
Historic Ladakh consists of a number of distinct areas (mainly under Indian rule), including the fairly populous main Indus valley, the more remote
valley areas in the west (Kargil being the second most important town in Ladakh). Historically populated by the Ladakhi people, continued immigration and preferential treatment to Kashmiris by the J&K government have led to demographic changes in the Ladakh region.The Baltistan and Skardu area, under Pakistani rule and entirely Muslim, used to be included in what is geographically referred to as Ladakh. Before partition, Baltistan was one of the districts of Ladakh. Skardo was the winter capital of Ladakh while Leh was the summer capital. People of Baltistan and Ladakh speak very similar languages closely related to Tibetan.
Naked barley, normal barley and wheat are the staple crops all over Ladakh, along with mustard (for oil), lentils and other pulses, and vegetables. The extreme limit of cultivation is at Korzok near the Tso Moriri lake, at 4560 m, said to be among the highest fields in the world.
Mountain ranges & plateau
The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a period of 45 million years by the folding of the
Kongka La
.- Mountain ranges are (from north to south, then east to west):
- Karakoram range: two importance of ranges are Changchenmo Range and Pangong Range as below.[3]
- Changchenmo Range - a sub range of Karakoram Range[3]
- Passes
- Hotsprings
- Hot Springs, Chang Chenmo Valley on LAC
- Gogra Hot Springs, Changlung Valleyalso in Chang Chenmo Valley on LAC.
- Jianan Pass – a border pass in the Kugrang Valley tributary of Changchenmo is sometimes called "Hot Springs" .[4]
- Pangong Range, a sub range of Karakoram Range,[3] runs from Chushul along southern shore of Panggong Tso on India-China LAC.
- Features
- Fingers, has Dhan Singh Thapa Post on northern bank of paganso on the slope of one of fingers.[5]
- Khurnak Fort on north bank of Pangong Tso
- Harong peak
- Mumkun peak on south bank of Pangong Tso
- Laban peak
- Matung Nyungtsa
- Dage peak
- Rechihlong
- Bapi peak.
- Merag peak
- Kangju Kangri peak
- Passes
- Lakes
- Features
- Pangong Range, a sub range of Karakoram Range,[3] runs from Chushul along southern shore of Panggong Tso on India-China LAC.
- Bangong Co.[3]
- Features
- Helmet Top
- Black Top
- Gurung Hill
- Spanggur Gap
- Mount Sajum
- Features
- Passes
- Rezang La
- Rechin La
- Rezang La II
- Chang La pass, northeast of Skakjung pasture & Dumchele village
- Passes
- Rivers
- Kigunaru River- the right bank tributary of Indus River
- Rivers
- Pastures
- Skakjung pasture in western part of Demchok sector and China-administered India-claimed Dumchele border trading village lies in this posture.
- Pastures
- Ladakh range
- Siachen.
- Passes
- Yarab Tso lake in Nubra Valley.
- Yaya Tso on "Chumathang-Chushul Road".
- Mirpal Tso on "Chumathang-Chushul Road".
- Koyul Ridge, from Dungti-Fukche-Koyul Ridge to Demchok on right bank of Indus along Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok highway (CDFD road).
- Zanskar range
- List of mountain peaks of Ladakh
.jpg)
- Plateaus are (north to south):
- Aksai Chin, see List of locations in Aksai Chin.
- Depsang plains(Karakoram Plains), north of Karakoram range.
- Daulat Beg Oldie
- Depsang Bulge
- Kongka La.
- Soda Plains, east of Depsang plains & north of Lingzi Thang Plains.
- Changthangplateau
- Chumathang hot springs on "Upshi-Nyoma Road".
- Puga hot springs east of Tso Kar lake on ""Meroo-Tso Kar-Mahe road"".
- Lakes
- Aksai Chin, see List of locations in Aksai Chin.
Ladakh range
The Ladakh Range has no major peaks; its average height is a little less than 6000 metres, and few of its passes are less than 5000 m. Within Ladakh it forms the northern boundary wall of the Indus valley, though when the river enters present-day Indian-controlled Ladakh at Demchok, some 250 km south-east of Leh, it is actually flowing along the foot of the northern flank of these granite mountains, which it crosses by a great gorge close to its confluence with the Hanle River.
The Pangong Range runs parallel to the Ladakh range for some 100 km northwest from
Panggong Lake
. It is divided from the main Ladakh range by the Tangtse River. Its highest range is 6700 m, and the northern slopes are heavily glaciated.
A third branch called the Kailash Range issues southeast of the Pangong Range and continues till Mount
Kailas in Ngari
(in Tibet). It forms the eastern watershed of the Indus River south of Mount Sajum.
Zanskar range
The
Nun-Kun
, with two summits over 7000 m.
Rivers valleys
Indus river (left) with the silty Zanskar River (top), where the Sindhu Pushkaram Festival
is held every 12 years.The enormous mass of the Himalayas creates a
Zanskar range
.
Lagankhel near confluence with the Chibra stream and till confluence near Fukche ALG Airstrip with the Koyul Lungpa river from Chang La pass, then heads northwest to the mountain watershed. Hanle River
(unmarked) flows parallel to Koyul River to its west in the map.
Tsogstsalu & Hot Springs to its confluence with Shyok River on Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road
(DSDBO Road). Its tributary Kugrang River flows NW-SE entirely within India-held area from Chang-lung La (Changlung La/Pass) and confluences at India-held Hot Springs. Kugrang River's tributary Changlung River flows NE-SW within China-held India-claimed area from Chang-lung Barma La (Changlung Barma La/Pass) and confluences at Gogra pasture (unmarked). (Survey of India, 1916).Sasser La
direction.- Karakash River:
originates in China-held and India-claimed area of Depsang Plains of Aksai Chin. Flows entirely in China-held area. - Indus River:
All of India-held Ladakh lies in the basin of Indus River. Indus River is the backbone of Ladakh. All the major places historically and currently such as Shey, Leh, Basgo, and Tingmosgang are situated close to the river. Many places along the course have witnessed the Sino-Indian border dispute. Major tributes of Indus are as follows (from east to west):- Indus river,[7][8][9] Chismule-Koyul-Umling La-Demchok Road (CKUD Road) 86 km long world's highest motorable road (a title earlier accorded to Khardung La at 17,600 ft) from Chismule in Koyul Lungpa river valley to Demchok via the Umling La pass (world's highest motorable pass at 19,300 ft (5,900 m)) connecting Demchok to Koyul & Hanle,[10][11][12] Hanle-Fukche-Koyul-Demchok Road (HFKD Road) via Hanle (also see IAO - Indian Astronomical Observatory) & FukcheALG airstrip.
- Lagankhelon south bank.
- Koyul Lungpa River:
runs from Chang La in south to northwest past Koyul to its confluence with Indus near Fukche ALG on south bank. - Chushul Eastern Stream:
flows west to east from Chushul heights to confluence with Indus River at Loma village near Hanle on west bank. - Imis La pass (5,290m or 17,355 ft high saddle, south of Ukdungle Indian Military base, Zarsar & Tradole peak) on the India-Tibet border and joins the Indus river near Nowi and Loma north of Hanle River[13] close to the town of Nyoma.
- Kharnak River: from Pang & Kharnak to Sangtha & Kharna, northeastern flank of Zanskar range.
- Kun Lun Mountains. Thus, between Leh and eastern Central Asia, there is a triple barrier: the Ladakh Range, the Karakoram range, and the Kun Lun. Nevertheless, a major trade route was established between Leh and Yarkand. Shyok River's tributaries are:
- Karakoram range by collecting streams north & east of Tianwendian in China-held part of Aksai Chin. Joins Shyok river near Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road(DS-DBO Road/DSDBO Road). Its tributaries are:
- Lungnak Lungpa Stream: flows northeast to southwest and joins north bank of Chip Chap River near LAC.
- DBO Stream or Chapo Chu: stream passing by Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) joins Chip Chap River in the Indian controlled area of Depsang Plains.
- Karakoram range in China-held disputed territory and flows west to join the Shyok River in India-held area 102 km south of DBO. Galwan River valley is location of bloody 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.
- Chang Chenmo River: originates near Lanak La in China-held India-claimed area of Aksai Chin. Its tributary Kugrang River is held by India, while Kugrang's tributary to east of Kugran the Changlung river is held by China & claimed by India. The Gogra, held by India, is a pasture & confluence of Kugrang & Changlung Rivers. Hot Springs (also called Kyam or Kayam) is confluence of Kugrang with Chang Chenmo River.[14][15][16] Gogra in Kugran Valley thus forms a key link, connecting the Kugrang valley, Changlung valley and Chang Chenmo.
- Kugrang River flows from northwest to southeast within territory held by India, receiving the Changlung River tributary at Gogra and then continuing further south to fall into Chang Chenmo River near Hot Springs.
- Changlung River, flows from north to southwest in China-held disputed territory, then ends into Kugrang River near the Gogra pasture held by India.
- Kugrang River flows from northwest to southeast within territory held by India, receiving the Changlung River tributary at Gogra and then continuing further south to fall into Chang Chenmo River near Hot Springs.
- Durbuk Stream:
flows east to west from Tangtse to confluence with Shyok River near Shyok village. Upstream at Tangtse, two following streams join to form the Durbuk Stream. These streams originate at Pangong Tso and western side of Chushul Heights respectively.- Pangong Stream:
flows east to west from Pangong Tso, via Muglib, to Tangtse where it joins another stream from western side of Chushul heights and forms Durbuk Stream. - Chushul Western Stream:
flows east to west from Chushul heights to confluence with Pangong Stream at Tangtse to forms Durbuk Stream.
- Pangong Stream:
- Panamik & Sasoma (starting point of Sasoma–Saser La Road to DBO in Depsang Plains), to its confluence with Shyok River near Diskit. Although, geographically the area between Diskit to Chalunka is not in Nubra River Valley as it is part of Shyok River itself, culturally it is considered part of the Nubra River Valley as they follow Buddhism. Chalunka to Turtuk (also see Battle of Turtuk) in India and beyond to Khaplu in PoK is called Chorbat Valley which is inhabited by the Balti-speaking Shia Muslims.
- Chorbat Valley:
from Chalunka (west of Diskit) to Khaplu in PoK is inhabited by Balti-speaking Shia Muslims.
- Zanskar River:
3 main tributaries are the Markha north of Padum, Stod (Doda) west of Padum, and the Lungnak (Tsarap Lingti) east of Padum. Zanskar suffers heavy snowfall, and the Pensi La which connects Stod River valley with Suru River valley opens only in June and is blocked again in mid-October. The entire valley is virtually treeless.- Markha River:
tributary of Zanskar River flows Hankar in east to Chilling in west and joins Zanskar River few kilometer south of Nimoo near Chilling & Skyu on Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road (NPDR). Marka River forms the western side of northern boundary of Zanskar range. - Drang-drungglacier of Pensi La and flows northwest to southeast through a broad open valley towards confluence with Lungnak River just east of Padum.
- Lungnak River:
flows east to west from Ladakh-Himachal-Tibet tri-junction to Padum. Its main tributaries are Tsarap River & Lingti River.- Lingti River:
Lingti River and another tributary (name ?) confluence with Lungnak River just north ofBara-lacha-la, after which Lungnak River flows past Phugtal Monastery. - Kurgiak Cho (Kargyak River): descends from Shingo-lanear Himachal-Ladakh-J&K tri-junction, flows south to northeast to confluences with Lungnak River near Gombo Rangjun (Gonbo Rangjon).
- Leh-Manali Highway", and east and north of Padum. It flows east to west till Tsarap River is Lungnak River's one of the main tributaries.
- Lingti River:
- Markha River:
- Aryan Valley near Batalik:
smaller Valley in India on LOC as part of Indus River where Indus enters Pakistan-held area. It has 5 villages & their hamlets in India, i.e. Dah, Hanu & Chulichan in Leh district, and Garkon and Darchik in Kargil district. - Indus at Marol in Baltistan in PoK. Saru River forms the western boundary of the Zanskar range. Although Rangdum Monastery & Zulidok villages, bith northeast of Pensi La, are in Suru River Valley, culturally they are considered part of Zanskar Valley (Stod Valley). Suru Valley is also the destination of the nomadic Bakarwal herdsmen who trek up every summer from the Jammuregion.
- Sankoo Stream: flows east to west from Itchu via Sangroh to join Suru River at Sankoo.
- Dras River: a downstream tributary of Suru River which confluences at Kaksar (Kakshar, west of Kargil town) in India near LAC.
- Shingo River: tributary of Dras River. Originates and flows through PoK Gilgit-Baltistan and enters Kargil district in India where it joins the Dras River.
Gallery
-
Landscape in Ladakh, near Pangong Tso -
View from Chang La Pass -
View of Leh from Khardung La Road
See also
- Geography of Himalayas
- Geography of Tibet
- Geology of the Himalaya
- Indus-Yarlung suture zone
- List of districts of Ladakh
- Siachen Glacier
- Tourism in Ladakh
Notes
- ^ The Line of Actual Control is that marked by the contributors to the OpenStreetMap as of January 2021, and may not be accurate. Chinese claims get more readily represented on the OpenStreetMap than other countries.[6]
References
- ^ a b "The Himalayas: Two continents collide". USGS. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ Mount Everest – Overview and Information by Matt Rosenberg. ThoughtCo Updated 17 March 2017
- ^ a b c d e If India loses grip on Kailash Range, PLA will make sure we never get it back, The Print, 12 November 2020.
- ^ Snehesh Alex Philip, 14th round of military talks fails to break Hot Springs logjam, breakthrough 'likely next time', The Print, 13 January 2022.
- ^ ITBP to Guard Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3 again, Economic Times, 22 February 2021.
- ^ Vittoria Elliott, Nilesh Christopher, The mysterious user editing a global open-source map in China’s favor, Rest Of World, 29 March 2021.
- ^ BRO starts process for 135-km road near LAC from Chushul to Demchok, News18, 24 Jan 2023.
- ^ Puri, Luv (2 August 2005). "Ladakhis await re-opening of historic Tibet route". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
- ^ Chushul-Demchok road to rein in PLA, The Pioneer, 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Khardunga La No longer the World's Highest Road. Meet its Successor at 19300 Ft!". 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017.
- ^ "BRO builds world's highest motorable road in Ladakh at 19,300 feet". 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Achievements of West Dte during the F/Y 2016-17" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Ward, A. E. (1896), The Tourist's and Sportsman's guide to Kashmir and Ladak, Thaker, Spink & Co, pp. 113–114 – via archive.org
- ^ Drew, Frederic (1875). The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories: A Geographical Account. E. Stanford. pp. 329–330 – via archive.org.
- ^
Ward, A.E. (1896). The Tourist's And--sportsman's Guide to Kashmir and Ladak, &c. Thacker, Spink. p. 106.
The Changlung stream joins the Kugrang near Gogra
- ^
Hayward, G. W. (1870). "Journey from Leh to Yarkand and Kashgar, and Exploration of the Sources of the Yarkand River". Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. 40: 33–37. JSTOR 1798640.
(p. 33) 'Kiam' and 'Gogra' located near bottom of last map insert ... (p. 37) Chang Chenmo is now well known, being visited every year by at least half-a-dozen officers on long leave to Kashmir. The game to be found...
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ladakh.
