Yarkand River

Yarkand River
Yarkand River
Location
Country	China
Province	Xinjiang
Physical characteristics
Source	North Siachen Muztagh, Karakoram range at an Altitude of 7,462 m (24,482 ft)
• coordinates	35°32′53″N 77°28′58″E / 35.547983°N 77.482907°E / 35.547983; 77.482907
2nd source	East Siachen Muztagh, North Rimo Glacier
• coordinates	35°29′17″N 77°26′52″E / 35.488°N 77.4479°E / 35.488; 77.4479
3rd source	Karakoram_Pass
• coordinates	35°30′48″N 77°49′22″E / 35.51346°N 77.8227°E / 35.51346; 77.8227
• elevation	5539
Mouth
• location	Tarim River or Neinejoung River
• coordinates	38°25′00″N 77°21′36″E / 38.416667°N 77.36°E / 38.416667; 77.36
Length	1,332.25 km (827.82 mi)
Basin size	98,900 km2 (38,200 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	210 m3/s (7,400 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Tarim→ Taitema Lake
Landmarks	Yarkand
Tributaries
• left	Shaksgam, Tashkurgan, Kashgar
• right	Aktagh River [zh]
Waterbodies	Altash Water Conservancy Project (Midstream Reservoir)

The Yarkand River (or Yarkent River, Yeh-erh-ch'iang Ho) is a river in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of western China. It originates in the Siachen Muztagh in a part of the Karakoram range and flows into the Tarim River or Neinejoung River, with which it is sometimes identified.^{[clarification needed]} However, in modern times, the Yarkand river drains into the Midstream Reservoir and exhausts its supply without reaching the Tarim river. The Yarkand River is approximately 1,332.25 km (827.82 mi) in length, with an average discharge of 210 m³/s (7,400 cu ft/s).

A part of the river valley is known to the Kyrgyz people as Raskam Valley, and the upper course of the river itself is called the Raskam River.^[1] Another name of the river is Zarafshan.^[2] The area was once claimed by the ruler of Hunza.