| Karakash River | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of the confluence with the Yurungkash River | |
| Location | |
| Country | China |
| Autonomous region | Xinjiang |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Karakoram range |
| • location | Aksai Chin |
| • coordinates | 34°54′26″N78°28′22″E / 34.907349°N 78.472665°E /34.907349; 78.472665 |
| • elevation | 19,000 feet (5,800 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Hotan River |
• coordinates | 38°05′09″N80°33′41″E / 38.0858°N 80.5613°E /38.0858; 80.5613 |
| Length | 740 km (460 mi) |
| Basin size | 19,983 km2 (7,715 mi2) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 69.7 m3/s (2,460 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Hotan→Tarim→Taitema Lake |
| Landmarks | Xaidulla,Hotan |
TheKarakash River (Chinese:喀拉喀什河;pinyin:Kālākāshí Hé;Uyghur:قاراقاش دەرياسى,romanized: Qaraqash Deryasi,cyrillized:Қарақаш Дәряси) or theBlack Jade River is a river in theXinjiang autonomous region of thePeople's Republic of China that originates inAksai Chin. It passes through the historical settlement ofShahidulla and passes by the city ofHotan to flow northeast in theTarim Basin. It merges with theYurungkash River, the combined river taking the nameHotan River and flowing into theTarim River.[1]
The river begins above 19,000 feet (5,800 m) about 7 miles (11 km) northeast ofGalwan Kangri peak in Aksai Chin. It flows north to Sumnal (15,540 ft), then turns sharply eastwards, flowing at the foot of the Karatagh Range (skirting just north of the Soda Plains of Aksai Chin). Just beyond Palong Karpo, it reaches the foot of theKunlun Mountains, where it turns sharply northwestwards, and crosses intoXinjiang proper. At this location it receives another headwater now called the 'East Karakash River' (which was once regarded as the main headwater). The combined river flows past the towns of Sumgal, Fotash, Gulbashem, until it reachesXaidulla (Shahidulla).
The river then turns sharply northeastwards near Xaidulla, and, after passing through Ali Nazar cuts through the Kunlun mountain range near the Suget orSanju Pass. It passes byKhotan to its west, running parallel to theYurungkash River, which it joins nearKoxlax (some 125 km north of Khotan (38°05′N80°34′E / 38.08°N 80.56°E /38.08; 80.56). The combined river is called theHotan River, which flows into theTarim River.
The Karakash River is famous for its white and greenishjade (nephrite) carried as river boulders and pebbles towardKhotan, as does the nearbyYurungkash (or 'White Jade') River.[2] This river jade originates from eroded mountain deposits of which the most famous one is near Gulbashen, in southwestern Xinjiang (formerlyChinese Turkestan). Black nephrite is also abundant in the Karakash River but these deposits are rarely reported in the primary nephrite finds.[3]
The Karakash Valley was also a caravan road for the north–south trade betweenYarkand (China) andLeh over theKarakoram Pass inLeh District ofLadakh.