Brahmaputra River System
Geography and Significance
The Brahmaputra is one of the world's major river systems, flowing approximately 2,900 km through Tibet (where it is known as Tsangpo), India (Assam), and Bangladesh (where it becomes the Jamuna). It is an antecedent river that predates the Himalayan orogeny.
- Origin: Near Angsi Glacier in Tibet, close to Lake Mansarovar
- Length: approximately 2,900 km (approximately 916 km in India)
- The Brahmaputra flows eastward in Tibet, takes a sharp U-turn near Namcha Barwa (known as the Dihang gorge), then flows southwest through Arunachal Pradesh and westward through Assam
- Major tributaries in India: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Lohit, Dibang
- The Brahmaputra carries the highest sediment load among Indian rivers, contributing to frequent flooding in Assam
- Majuli, in the Brahmaputra, is the world's largest river island
- The river is a transboundary waterway shared by China, India, and Bangladesh, making it geopolitically significant
- China's dam-building activities on the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet are a concern for downstream nations
● Tracked since February 13, 2026 · last seen March 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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