Which one is the longest river?

The correct answer is Brahmaputra River

Key Points 

• The Brahmaputra System
  • The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world, has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake.
  • From here, it traverses eastward longitudinally for a distance of nearly 1,200 km in a dry and flat region of southern Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo, which means ‘the purifier.’
  • The Rango Tsangpo is the major right-bank tributary of this river in Tibet. 
  • It emerges as a turbulent and dynamic river after carving out a deep gorge in the Central Himalayas near Namcha Barwa (7,755 m).
  • The river emerges from the foothills under the name of Siang or Dihang.
  • It enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • Flowing southwest, it receives its main left-bank tributaries, viz., Dibang or Sikang and Lohit; thereafter, it is known as the Brahmaputra.
  • The Brahmaputra receives numerous tributaries in its 750 km long journey through the Assam valley.
  • Its major left bank tributaries are the Burhi Dihing and Dhansari (South) whereas the important right bank tributaries are the Subansiri, Kameng, Manas and Sankosh. 
  • The Subansiri which has its origin in Tibet is an antecedent river.
  • The Brahmaputra enters into Bangladesh near Dhubri and flows southward.
  • In Bangladesh, the Tista joins it on its right bank from where the river is known as the Jamuna.
  • It finally merges with the river Padma, which falls in the Bay of Bengal.
  • The Brahmaputra is well-known for floods, channel shifting and bank erosion.
  • This is due to the fact that most of its tributaries are large, and bring large quantity of sediments owing to heavy rainfall in its catchment area.

Additional Information