Major River Basins of Asia

Asia is blessed with a variety of important river basins that influence the terrain, provide resources for people to live off of, and support various ecosystems. These water systems, which range from the powerful Yangtze River Basin in China to the culturally significant Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin in India and Bangladesh, have been crucial in influencing the history of the area and providing for millions of people. Let's look at the distinctive features of Asia's major river basins.

Features of Major River Basins of Asia

Here are the descriptions of major river basin of Asia −

Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin supported some of the highest population densities in the world and helped some of the earliest civilizations in history rise. It now provides livelihoods for millions of people, supports rich ecosystems, and irrigates millions of hectares of land. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna are the three rivers that make up the basin. Before the rivers converge just a few hundred kilometres before the river's mouth in the Bay of Bengal, the drainage basin passes through India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Yangtze River Basin

Asia's longest river basin is the Yangtze, sometimes referred to as the Chang Jiang in China. It originates on the Tibetan Plateau and travels over 6,300 km before entering the East China Sea via the Three Gorges Dam. When complete, the South-North Water Diversion Project will be able to move 17 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Yangtze River's headwaters to the Yellow River. It is the third-longest river basin in the world, the largest to run wholly within a single nation, and the longest in Eurasia. According to discharge volume, it is the fifth-largest primary river in the world. Nearly one-third of China's population resides in its drainage basin, which covers one-fifth of the nation's land area.

Mekong River Basin

The Mekong, often known as the Mekong River, divides East Asia from Southeast Asia. The Mekong was first referred to as Mae Nam Khong after Tai, a shorter version of which became Mae Khong. With an estimated length of 4,909 km and a drainage area of 795,000 km², it is the twelfth-longest river in the world and the third-longest in Asia. It releases 475 km³ of water yearly. The river flows from its source in the Tibetan Plateau through southwest China, where it is known as the Lancang River, as well as Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam.

Indus River Basin

The region of Asia that the Indus River and its tributaries drain is known as the Indus basin. The basin spans an area of 1,120,000 km² and passes through Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan, with the majority of the basin located in the last two nations. The Panjnad, created by the various confluences of the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, and the Kabul, which receives water from the Swat, Kunar, and other rivers, are the two primary tributaries that feed into the Indus river. Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan all share the Indus basin.

Yellow River Basin

The Yellow River basin was the most prosperous region in early Chinese history and the cradle of ancient Chinese culture and, consequently, of East Asian civilization. With an estimated length of 5,464 km, the Yellow River, or Huang He, is the sixth-longest river system in the world and the second-longest river in China after the Yangtze River. The river bed is constantly rising, sometimes exceeding the level of the nearby farm fields, resulting in repeated severe floods and route shifts. The Yellow River basin spans roughly 1,900 kilometres east to west and 1,100 km north to south. A total of 795,000 square km drains this area.

Amur River Basin

The Tungusic word for "river" is whence the Russian name Amur originates. At the confluence of its two main affluents, the Shilka and the Argun (or Ergune), the river rises in the hills in the western region of Northeast China at an elevation of 303 meters. The Amur proper is 2,824 km long and has a 1,855,000 km² drainage basin. Along with the northernmost populations of the Amur softshell turtle and Indian lotus, the river basin is home to a variety of large predatory fish, including the northern snakehead, Amur pike, taimen, Amur catfish, predatory carp, and yellowcheek.

Irrawaddy River Basin

The area of the Irrawaddy River basin is roughly 255 81 km². The valleys of the middle Irrawaddy and lower Chindwin make up the Central Basin. It is located in the "dry zone" and is made up primarily of teak-dominated plains covered in the Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests ecoregion, which surrounds patches of dry forest in drier locations. The centre basin receives just a small amount of precipitation annually (650mm on average), but storms from July to October cause it to flood swiftly. A sizable portion of Burma is covered by its 404,200 square kilometre drainage basin. It is frequently referred to as "The Road to Mandalay" after Rudyard Kipling's poem.

Brahmaputra River Basin

The Brahmaputra basin in India encircles the entire state of Sikkim as well as the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. The basin has an asymmetrical shape. The Brahmaputra basin spans 5,80,000 square kilometres until its confluence in Bangladesh. Brahmaputra's width is 5.46 km on average. The Brahmaputra River in Guwahati had a maximum flow of 72,779 cumec on August 23, 1962, and a lowest discharge of 1757 cumec on February 22, 1963. It is the 15th longest river in the world and the 9th largest by discharge.

Lena River Basin

The easternmost of the three major Siberian rivers that empty into the Arctic Ocean is the Lena, which is located in the Russian Far East. According to calculations, the Lena River basin covers 2,490,000 square kilometres, and its mean annual discharge is 489 cubic kilometres. Gold has been found in the Vitim and Olyokma sands, and mammoth tusks have been discovered in the delta. In the river's floodplain, there are a lot of lakes. The two largest lakes in the Lena basin are Lakes Nedzheli and Ulakhan-Kyuel.

Tigris-Euphrates River Basin

The Tigris-Euphrates River system is a significant river system in Western Asia that empties into the Persian Gulf. The Tigris and Euphrates, as well as other lesser tributaries, are its two main rivers. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait all share the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. Some of the earliest civilisations were born at the meeting of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The river basin has seen the rise and fall of numerous civilizations throughout history, including those of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria, and the Abbasid Caliphate.

List of Major River Basins of Asia

Here's a table showcasing the major river basins in Asia and their locations −

River Basin	Location
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin	India, Bangladesh
Yangtze River Basin	China
Mekong River Basin	China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
Indus River Basin	India, Pakistan
Yellow River Basin	China
Amur River Basin	Russia, China
Irrawaddy River Basin	Myanmar
Brahmaputra River Basin	India, China, Bangladesh
Lena River Basin	Russia
Tigris-Euphrates River Basin	Turkey, Syria, Iraq

Conclusion

Numerous significant river basins may be found throughout Asia, and they are essential for maintaining ecosystems, agriculture, and human lifestyles. Key water systems with significant cultural and environmental significance include the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin, Yangtze River Basin, Mekong River Basin, Indus River Basin, Yellow River Basin, Amur River Basin, Irrawaddy River Basin, Brahmaputra River Basin, Lena River Basin, and Tigris-Euphrates River Basin.

Frequently Asked Question

Which is the longest river basin in Asia?

The Yangtze River Basin is the longest river basin in Asia.

What countries are included in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin?

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin passes through India, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Which river basin is known as "The Road to Mandalay"?

The Irrawaddy River Basin is often referred to as "The Road to Mandalay" after Rudyard Kipling's poem.

How many countries share the Tigris-Euphrates River Basin?

The Tigris-Euphrates River Basin is shared by Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait.