10 Longest Rivers Flow On North-East India

India is 7th largest country in world in terms of area which is 32,87,590 km² or 12,69,345 mi² . India has total land area of 29,73,190 km² or 11,47,955 mi² . India occupies almost 2% of total landmass of entire world’s landmass. In this article, we will know more about 10 longest rivers flow on North-East India.

North-East India or North-Eastern Region is easternmost region of India represents both geographic and political administrative division of the country. It comprises eight states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura (commonly known as “Seven Sisters“) and the “brother” state of Sikkim. There are 10 longest rivers flow through North-East India.

North-Eastern Region of India shares an international border of 5,182 kilometres (3,220 mi) with several neighbouring countries – 1,395 kilometres (867 mi) with Tibet Autonomous Region in the north, 1,640 kilometres (1,020 mi) with Myanmar in the east, 1,596 kilometres (992 mi) with Bangladesh in the south-west, 97 kilometres (60 mi) with Nepal in the west and 455 kilometres (283 mi) with Bhutan in the north-west. It comprises an area of 262,184 square kilometres (101,230 sq mi) which is almost 8% of total landmass of India. Siliguri Corridor connects north-east Indian region with mainland India.

Rivers are one of the important parts of all Indian. India has 8 major river and more than 400 small and big rivers flow through parts of India. There are some major and minor rivers flow through north-east part of India. Some important rivers flow through north-east India are – Brahmaputra, Barak, Subansiri, Dhansiri, Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng etc.

10 Longest Rivers Flow On North-East India : River Definition, Parts and Formation

Every river has some specific characteristics. As north-eastern region is part of Himalayas and many valleys and plateaus are also visible here. The region is covered by Brahmaputra-Barak river systems and their tributaries. Geographically, apart from Brahmaputra, Barak and Imphal valleys and some flatlands in between hills of Meghalaya and Tripura, remaining two-thirds of the area is hilly terrain interspersed with valleys and plains. Altitude varies from almost sea-level to over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) above mean sea level.

River Definition

River is a natural stream of water flows through channel on the surface of ground or under the ground from a higher altitude to a lower elevation such as sea, ocean, lake etc.

Parts

Generally a river has three main parts due to water flow from : Upper Course, Middle Course and Lower Course.

A) Upper Course : Upper course of a river means the river –

(a) flows through a certain elevation (hilly areas)

(b) water flows at a very high speed

(c) can erode riverbed very fast and much

(d) can carry eroded materials very fast and distance away.

B) Middle Course : Middle course of a river means the river –

(a) generally flows through moderate elevation (plateau, flat lands)

(b) can widen riverbed but not so much fast

(c) can carry eroded materials distance away.

C) Lower Course : Lower course of river means the river –

(a) flows through through lower elevation or plan area

(b) speed of stream is slow and lost power of erosion largely

(c) deposit eroded materials on its way to lower water bodies.

Formation

River formation is not so complex system like any other natural phenomena. Rivers are generally forms on high mountain range with water melts from glacier. Then the glacier melted water flows downward through small channel into small stream. Some of these small streams form a large river.

10 Longest Rivers Flow On North-East India : Rivers

A) Brahmaputra : Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary which flows through Tibet Autonomous Region, India & Bangladesh. This river has many different names like – Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang/Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Luit in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh. This river is 15th longest river in the world.

Source – Chemayungdung Glacier, Manasarovar Lake, Tibet

Discharge – Bay of Bengal

Length – 2,906 kms / 1,122 mi (but 916 kms / 353.6 mi in India)

Basin Size – 6,51,334 km² / 2,51,481 mi²

Tributary : Some of the important tributaries of Brahmaputra river is given below –

Left Tributaries : Lhasa (450 kms), Nyang (307 kms), Parlung Tsangpo (266 kms), Lohit (200 kms), Kolong (250 kms), Dhansiri (352 kms), Buri-dihing (380 kms), kopili (290 kms) etc.

Right Tributaries – Kameng (264 kms),Subansiri (442 kms), Manas (400 kms), Teesta (414 kms), Sankosh (321 kms), Jaldhaka (233 kms) etc.

B) Barak : Barak is one of the main rivers in north-eastern India. It flows through Indian states of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and then into Bangladesh.

When Barak river enters into Bangladesh, it gets bifurcated as Surma river and Kushiyara river. This two rivers mixed once again to form Meghna river in Bangladesh before forming Ganges delta there.

Source – Khongnem, Manipur, India

Discharge – Kandigram, Bay of Bengal

Length – 900 kms / 560 mi

Basin Size – 52,000 km² / 20,077 mi² (41,723 km² / 16,109 mi² India and 10,277 km² / 3,968 mi² in Bangladesh)

Tributary – Barak river has many tributaries. Some of these tributaries are – Katakhal, Jiri, Chiri, Rukni, Sonai, Longai, Singla, Modhura etc.

Tuivai is also a tributary of Barak which forms boundary between India and Myanmar. Also forms boundary between Manipur and Mizoram states of India.

C) Lohit : Lohit river is a trans-boundary river between Tibet Autonomous Region and India. This river has many names like Zayul Chu by Tibetans and Tellu by Mishmis. Also Assamese meaning of this river is “Blood”. Lohit originates when two rivers – Zayul Chu and Kangri Karpo Chu merged together in Tibet.

Source – Kangri Karpo Chu, Tibetan Autonomous Region

Discharge – Brahmaputra (Siang), Assam, India

Length – 560 kms / 350 mi

Basin Size – 41,499 km² / 16,023 mi²

Tributary – Some of the important tributaries of Lohit river are Zuao, Gholum, Lati, Noa Dihang, Dav, Delai, Tiding, Dibang etc.

D) Subansiri : Subansiri (also gold river) is a trans-Himalayan river and the largest tributary of Brahmaputra river. This river originates on Tibetan Plateau when  Tsari Chu, Chayal Chu, and Lokong Chu (Char Chu) meets. Then it enters into India where it meets with Brahmaputra river. The name “Subansiri” is derived from Sanskrit word “svarṇa” which means ‘gold’.

Source – Mount Porom, Tibetan Plateau, Tibet

Discharge – Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Length – 518 kms / 322 mi

Basin Size – 32,640 km² / 12,600 mi²

Tributary – Subansiri river has some small tributaries like Rangandi, Dikrong and Kamle rivers etc.

E) Manas : Manas river is a trans-boundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan, India and Tibet. It is one of the major river in Bhutan. It originates from Tibet and flows for 24 km (15 mi) there and in Bhutan for 272 kilometres (169 mi) and in Assam for 104 kilometres (65 mi).

Source – Himalayan Foothills, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Discharge – Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Length – 400 kms / 250 mi

Basin Size – 41,350 km² / 15,970 mi²

Tributary – Some of the important tributaries of Manas river are  Lhobrak or Kuri Chhu, Aie River etc.

F) Dihing : Dihing or Burhi-Dihing is a large tributary of Brahmaputra river. The river originates from Patkai Hills in Arunachal Pradesh and enters into assam where it meets with Brahmaputra at Dihingmukh.

Source – Patkai Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Discharge – Dihingmukh, Brahmaputra River, Assam

Length – 380 kms / 240 mi

Basin Size – 6,000 km² / 2,300 mi²

Tributary – Disang, Dikhou, Disai, Dhansiri are the major tributary rivers that flows into Dihing river.

G) Dhansiri : Dhansiri river is a tributary river of Brahmaputra and flows through Nagaland and Assam states of India. Dhansiri originates from Nagaland and then flows into Brahmaputra river in Assam.

Source – Laisang Peak, Nagaland, India

Discharge – Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Length – 352 kms / 219 mi

Basin Size – 12,584 km² / 4,858.5 mi²

Tributary – Some of the important tributaries meet with Dhansiri river are Dayang, Diphupani, Khora, Langlong, Beopani rivers etc.

H) Dibang : Dibang river (also known as Sikang by Adi and Talo in Idu) is an upstream tributary of Brahmaputra river. The river originates from Upper Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh and from there, it meets with Lohit river in Assam. Finally, it discharge into Brahmaputra river in Assam.

Source – Keya Pass, Upper Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh

Discharge – Lohit River, Assam, India

Length – 324 kms / 201 mi

Basin Size – 13,933 km² / 5,380 mi²

Tributary – Sisar, Mathun, Tangon, Dri, Ithun and Emra rivers are major tributaries of Dibang river. Other tributaries are  Airi, Ilu, Imu, Ahi, Ashu, Epipani and Eze (Deopani) rivers.

I) Kopili : Kopili river is an interstate river in North-East India that flows through states of Assam and Meghalaya. It is largest south bank tributary of Brahmaputra river in Assam.

Source – Meghalaya Plateau, Meghalaya, India

Discharge – Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Length – 290 kms / 180 mi

Catchment Area – 16,420 km² / 6,340 mi²

Tributary – Kopili river has many tributaries and sub-tributaries that mixed with it. Tributaries of Kopili river are – Diyung, Jamuna, Umkhen-Borapani, Killing, Umtrew/Digaru and Kolong etc. Some other Sub-tributaries are – Diju, Misa, Haria and Digaru etc

J) Kameng : Kameng is one of the important tributary river of Brahmaputra. It originates from a glacial lake in Arunachal Pradesh and meets with Brahmaputra river in Assam.

Source – Gori Chen Mountain Range, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Discharge – Brahmaputra River, Assam, India

Length – 264 kms / 164 mi

Basin Size – 11,843 km² / 4,573 mi²

Tributary – Some important tributary rivers that flows into Kameng river are Tippi, Tenga, Bichom, Dirang Chu rivers etc.

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