Bhotekoshi River

The Bhote Koshi is the upper river course of the Sun Kosi, known as Poiqu in Tibet.[2] It is part of the Koshi River system in Nepal.[1]

For Rural municipality, see Bhotekoshi.
Bhote Koshi (Poiqu)
Bhote Koshi near the Tibetan border during dry season
Physical characteristics
Source 
 ⁃ locationZhangzangbo Glacier, Tibet Autonomous Region
 ⁃ elevation8,012 m (26,286 ft)
Mouth 
 ⁃ location
Sun Kosi near Balephi, Sindhupalchowk, Nepal
 ⁃ coordinates
27°43′58″N 85°46′47″E
 ⁃ elevation
640 m (2,100 ft)[1]
Basin features
River systemKoshi River

A western tributary of the upper Dudh Koshi is also called Bhote Koshi.[3]

River course
The valley of Bhote Koshi

The headwaters of Poiqu and Bhote-Sun Koshi River are located at the Zhangzangbo Glacier in Tibet.[4] The river flows out of the Lumi Chimi lake. When entering Nepal, it is called Bhote Koshi. Further downstream, from the village of Bahrabise onwards, it is called Sun Koshi.[1]

Hazards

In July 1981, a sudden ice avalanche caused a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in the moraine-dammed Zhangzangbu-Cho Lake in the headwaters of the Bhote Koshi. The ensuing debris flow destroyed bridges, and sections of both the Arniko and the Nepal–China highways.[5]

Names and etymology

Nepali: भोटे कोशी; Chinese: 波特科西; pinyin: Bōtè Kēxī

In Nepali language, the word "bhoṭe" or "bhoṭiyā" means Tibetan;[6] and the word "kosi" means river.[7]

Tourism and sports

The Bhote Kosi is used for both rafting and kayaking. It is the steepest river rafted in Nepal, with a gradient of 15 m per km. Bungee jumping or swinging over the Bhote Kosi has been described as the ‘ultimate experience’.[8]

The river carves a steep and direct drop at the top that gradually eases to more placid streams and calmer pools with a 46-km run at the Lamosunga dam. The rapids are class IV-V at high flow, and III at lower levels. The river is steep and continuous with one rapid leading into another.

References
  1. Shrestha, A. B., Eriksson, M., Mool, P., Ghimire, P., Mishra, B., & Khanal, N. R. (2010). Glacial lake outburst flood risk assessment of Sun Koshi basin, Nepal. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk 1(2): 157–169.
  2. Yamada, T., Sharma, C. K. (1993). Glacier lakes and outburst floods in the Nepal Himalaya. IAHS Publications-Publications of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 218: 319–330.
  3. Kattelmann, R. (2003). Glacial lake outburst floods in the Nepal Himalaya: a manageable hazard? Natural Hazards 28(1): 145–154.
  4. Bajracharya, S. R., Mool, P. K., Shrestha, B. R. (2006). The impact of global warming on the glaciers of the Himalaya. Pages 231–242 in: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geodisasters, Infrastructure Management and Protection of World Heritage Sites. Nepal Engineering College, Ehime College and National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal.
  5. Mool, P. K.; Joshi, S. P.; Bajracharya, S. R. (2001). Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and Damage in the Country. Pages 121–136 in: Inventory of Glaciers, Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods: Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region, Nepal. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu.
  6. Turner, R. L. (1931). "bhote". A Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner: London.
  7. Turner, R. L. (1931). "kosi". A Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner: London.
  8. Bindloss, J. (2010). "Bungee Jumping". Nepal. Lonely Planet. p. 87. ISBN 9781742203614. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
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