| Dras River | |
|---|---|
 Dras River | |
  The confluence of the Dras River with the Suru River | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Union Territory | Ladakh |
| District | Kargil |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | 34°16′20″N75°31′47″E / 34.272303°N 75.529832°E /34.272303; 75.529832 |
| • location | Machoi Glacier nearZojila |
| • elevation | 4,400 m (14,400 ft) |
| Mouth | 34°35′41″N76°07′13″E / 34.5946°N 76.1202°E /34.5946; 76.1202 |
• location | Suru River at KharulKargil |
• elevation | 3,618 m (11,870 ft) |
| Length | 86 km (53 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 212 m3/s (7,500 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Indus→Arabian Sea |
TheDras River, also speltDrass River, is ariver in theKargil district in theIndian union territory ofLadakh. It originates below theZoji La pas in theGreat Himalayan range and flows northeast towardsKargil, where it joins theSuru River. TheShingo River, which flows in a parallel direction inPakistan-administeredBaltistan, also joins the Dras River. The combined river is alternatively called Suru, Drass and Shingo by various local groups.
The Dras River valley is traversed by theNational Highway 1D that connectsSrinagar in Kashmir withLeh in Ladakh. It represents a historic trade route.
The Dras River is 86 km (53 mi) long and flows entirely in the Dras Valley. Itssource lies in theMachoi Glacier nearZojila Pass, the gateway toLadakh, 26 km (16 mi) east ofSonamarg and 120 km (75 mi) east ofSrinagar, the summer capital (May - October) of Jammu and Kashmir.[1][2] The Machoi Glacier is also the source of theSind River, which flows through the neighbouringKashmir Valley in the opposite direction to the Dras River.[3] The Dras River flows northeast, fed by many glacial streams.NH 1D, a national highway connecting Srinagar with Ladakh (Kargil andLeh), runs parallel to the river. The river forms the Dras Valley atDras,[2] where it is joined by two tributaries, the Mashko Nala and Gamru Nala, which originate in the glaciers of Mashko Valley.[3] In the Dras Valley, the road connecting Dras andGurais runs parallel to the river.
TheShingo River joins the Dras River at Latoo near Kaksar, and doubles the flow of the river. The Shingo River originates in the Chota Deosai Plains north of Minimarg (Astore District,Gilgit-Baltistan) and flows east.[4][2]
The combined Dras and Shingo rivers join theSuru River at Kharul, 7 km (4.3 mi) north of the town ofKargil.[2] The Suru River is a left tributary of theIndus River.[5] It originates from the Panzella glacier nearPensi La, flows northwards and merges with theIndus River at Nurla in Pakistan-administeredGilgit-Baltistan, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of its confluence with the Dras River. It enters the Pakistani-Administered Kashmir at Post 43 of India or Post 44 of Pakistan.[6]
The Dras River flows through the towns of Matayan, Pandrass, Troungjen, Dras, Bhimbat, Thasgam, Shimsha, Kharbu and Kakshar. The largest settlement on its banks isDras, which is the second-coldest inhabited place in the world afterSiberia.[7] The water flow of the river increases during the late summer, due to the heavy melting of glaciers.[8]
Shingo river.
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