Chindwin River

Last updated
Chindwin River
  • Burmese: ချင်းတွင်းမြစ်
  • IPA: [tɕɪ́ɰ̃dwɪ́ɰ̃mjɪʔ]
  • Meitei: ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯤ ꯇꯨꯔꯦꯜ
Homalin aerial.jpg
The Chindwin at Homalin. The smaller, meandering Uyu River can be seen joining the Chindwin.
Irrawaddyrivermap.jpg
Location
Country Myanmar
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • location Hukawng Valley, Kachin State
 • coordinates 27°3′26.7048″N97°1′33.618″E / 27.057418000°N 97.02600500°E / 27.057418000; 97.02600500
 • elevation1,134 m (3,720 ft)
Mouth  
 • location
 Irrawaddy River
 • coordinates
 21°28′26″N95°16′53″E / 21.47389°N 95.28139°E / 21.47389; 95.28139
 • elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Length1,207 km (750 mi)
Basin size114,684.9 km2 (44,280.1 sq mi) [1]
Discharge 
 • locationNear mouth
 • average(Period: 1967– 2009)149.7 km3/a (4,740 m3/s) [2]
Discharge 
 • location Monywa (74 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 110,350 km2 (42,610 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 1966–2009)4,637 m3/s (163,800 cu ft/s) [2]
 • minimum(Period: 1966–2009)649 m3/s (22,900 cu ft/s) [2]
 • maximum(Period: 1966–2009)19,935 m3/s (704,000 cu ft/s) [2]
Discharge 
 • location Hkamti (Basin size: 27,420 km2 (10,590 sq mi)
 • average(Period: 1972–2009)2,290 m3/s (81,000 cu ft/s) [2]
 • minimum(Period: 1972–2009)109 m3/s (3,800 cu ft/s) [2]
 • maximum(Period: 1972–2009)14,150 m3/s (500,000 cu ft/s) [2]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • left Uyu
 • right Myittha

The Chindwin River (Burmese : Chindwin Myin), also known as the Ningthi River [3] [4] (Meitei : Ningthi Turel [5] [6] [lower-alpha 1] ), is a river flowing entirely in Myanmar, and the largest tributary of the country's main river, the Irrawaddy. [7] Its official name is also spelled Chindwinn. [8]

Contents

Sources

The Chindwin originates in the broad Hukawng Valley of Kachin State of Burma, roughly 26°26′18″N96°33′32″E / 26.43833°N 96.55889°E / 26.43833; 96.55889 , where the Tanai, the Tabye, the Tawan, and the Taron (also known as Turong or Towang) rivers meet.

The headwaters of the Tanai are at 25°30′N97°0′E / 25.500°N 97.000°E / 25.500; 97.000 on the Shwedaunggyi peak of the Kumon range, 12 miles (19 km) north of Mogaung. It flows due north until it reaches the Hukawng Valley. In 2004, the government established the world's largest tiger preserve in the Hukawng Valley, the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of approximately 6,500 km2 (2,500 sq mi); later, the Sanctuary was extended to 21,800 square kilometres (8,400 sq mi), making it the largest protected area in mainland Southeast Asia. The river then turns to the west and flows through the middle of the plain, [7] joined by the Tabye, the Tawan, and the Taron rivers from the right bank. These rivers drain the mountain ranges to the north and northeast of the Hukawng valley.

Course

The Tanai exits the Hukawng valley through the Taron or Turong valley and through a sharp defile in the river. It then takes on the name of Chindwin, and maintains a general southerly course. [7] It passes the town of Singkaling Hkamti on the left bank, then the town of Homalin, also on the left bank.

The river's course is generally southwesterly until the town of Mingin. It then takes a more southeasterly course entering the broad central plain, passing the city of Monywa on the left bank. Its course at this point forms the boundary between the Sagaing District of Sagaing Region and the Pakokku District of Magway Region.

It enters the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy) at about 21°30′N95°15′E / 21.500°N 95.250°E / 21.500; 95.250 . The extreme outlets into the Ayeyarwady are about 22 miles (35 km) apart, the interval forming a succession of long, low, partially populated islands. The lowest mouth of the Chindwin is, according to tradition, an artificial channel, cut by one of the kings of Bagan (Pagan). It was choked up for centuries until 1824 when it was opened out by an exceptional flood. [9] Satellite pictures show this lowest channel to be the widest one today. [10]

Discharge

Average, minimum and maximum discharge of the Chindwin River at Monywa. Period from 1966/01/01 to 2023/12/31: [2] [11] [12]

YearDischarge (m3/s)YearDischarge (m3/s)
MinMeanMax MinMeanMax
19666105,61124,55019956844,97720,680
19677754,81217,74019966163,98916,080
19687575,13725,45019974324,43420,400
19695824,00620,13019987365,11319,600
19705484,77519,79019994805,18821,530
19715095,79219,45020006325,51418,740
19727573,25716,49020015124,27814,040
19735305,10321,70020026724,59524,300
19749215,56625,00020037445,13418,460
19757094,49317,84020046085,86219,770
19768926,92826,65020055523,48616,200
19777984,39823,80020062423,77116,520
19786723,95616,54020073185,35519,740
19795304,06318,92020082884,50023,270
19808065,07520,30020092573,23216,160
19817903,83316,01020101213,89813,787
19826504,38523,16020111323,77119,673
19836534,24718,84020123434,81716,600
19846005,09122,71020132014,23616,560
19856135,30519,45020142973,16918,081
19865913,98115,42020154,58525,510
19876595,33920,01020168025,16019,067
19886105,09725,45020176,77621,831
19897834,79622,49020185,61819,019
19909075,67020,58020194774,29012,963
19918526,48825,60020206,11417,800
19921,0394,10214,47020212764,77616,610
19939814,82621,14020229724,60311,805
19946443,43913,41020231564,20414,527


Tributaries

  1. Uyu River is the largest tributary joining the Chindwin river just below Homalin on the left. The famous jade mines at Hpakant lie in the headwaters of the Uyu. [13] [14]
  2. Myittha River drains the Kale valley and joins on the right further downstream. The town of Kalewa is on the left bank of their confluence.
  3. Tizu River originates from central Nagaland in northeast India. It flows through Zünheboto and Phek districts and finally joins the Chindwin river.[ citation needed ]

Towns

River Chindwin at Monywa R Chindwin.JPG
River Chindwin at Monywa
1980: River Chindwin 30 km NE of Monywa with Lower Chindwin crater lake Aerial view of lower Chindwin River and Twin Taung (1980).JPG
1980: River Chindwin 30 km NE of Monywa with Lower Chindwin crater lake
  1. Hkamti
  2. Htamanthi
  3. Homalin
  4. Mawlaik
  5. Kalewa
  6. Kalaymyo
  7. Mingin
  8. Monywa [15]

Environment

Much of Chindwin's course lies within mountain ranges and forests. Due to the difficulty of access, much of it remains unspoilt. The government of Burma recently created a very large (2,500 square mile) sanctuary for the endangered tiger within the Hukawng Valley. [16]

History

The mountain ranges to the west of the Chindwin are formidable, yet not totally impregnable to armies. The Kabaw valley saw many an invasion by the kingdom of Manipur to the west, most notably during the reign of King Garibaniwaj (1709–1748) when his army crossed over the Chindwin and the Mu, took Myedu, and reached as far as Sagaing opposite the capital Ava. The tables were turned in 1758 after King Alaungpaya ascended the Burmese throne. [17] The Burmese army invaded and occupied Manipur and Assam marching across the western mountain ranges, and even encroached upon British India.

During World War II, when the Japanese had cut off sea access, the British army and other allied forces under General Joseph Stilwell retreated on foot to India across the same mountains, with disastrous results, mainly due to disease and hunger. The Ledo Road was built across the Hukawng valley to supply China. [18] The Chindwin was a major barrier both for the Japanese trying to invade India and for the Allied forces to reoccupy Burma. [19]

Ethnography and culture

The chindwin river has a great impact on the culture of western Burma. [20] Central Sino-Tibetan languages originated from valley areas of this river.

Economics

The Chindwin is served by regular river-going vessels up to the town of Homalin. Teak forests within its drainage area have been a valuable resource since ancient times. The Hukawng Valley is known for its abundance of Burmese amber. Along the river, there are deposits of jade, but Hpakant in the headwaters of the Uyu river is the only place in the world where the finest jade - known as jadeite or imperial jade - is found, along with an abundance of fish. [13] [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ The name in Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) is notable to be mentioned because many important historical events, associated with the Manipuri and the Burmese people, happened in and around the very river. Its Meitei language name is "Ningthi Turel". Here, "Turel" is a Meitei term for "river".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagaing Region</span> Region of Myanmar

Sagaing Region is an administrative region of Myanmar, located in the north-western part of the country between latitude 21° 30' north and longitude 94° 97' east. It is bordered by India's Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh states to the north, Kachin State, Shan State, and Mandalay Region to the east, Mandalay Region and Magway Region to the south, with the Ayeyarwady River forming a greater part of its eastern and also southern boundary, and Chin State and India to the west. The region has an area of 93,527 square kilometres (36,111 sq mi). In 1996, it had a population of over 5,300,000 while its population in 2012 was 6,600,000. The urban population in 2012 was 1,230,000 and the rural population 5,360,000. The capital city and the largest city of Sagaing Region is Monywa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, also known as Meetei, Manipuri people, is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Republic of India and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monywa</span> City in Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Monywa is the largest city in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, located 136 kilometres (85 mi) north-west of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin. Monywa is one of the largest economic cities in Myanmar. It is also known as 'Neem City' because many of the city's streets are lined with neem trees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homalin</span> Town in Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Homalin or Hommalinn is a small town in north-western Burma and capital of the Homalin Township in Hkamti District of the Sagaing Region. The town lies on the Chindwin River and is served by Homalin Airport.

The Hukawng Valley is an isolated valley in Myanmar, roughly 5,586 square miles (14,468 km2) in area. It is located in Tanaing Township in the Myitkyina District of Kachin State in the northernmost part of the country. It has the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gharib Niwaz (Manipur)</span> King of Manipur from 1709 to 1751

Gharib Niwaz was the ruler of the Manipur Kingdom, ruling from c. 1709 until his death in 1751. He introduced Hinduism as the state religion of his kingdom (1717) and changed the name of the kingdom from "Kangleipaak" to the Sanskrit Manipur (1724). He changed his royal name from his birth name Pamheipa to the Persianate "Gharib Niwaz". During most of his reign he was engaged in warfare against the weakened Burmese Toungoo Dynasty.

Moreh is a border town located on the India–Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district of the Indian state of Manipur. As a rapidly developing international trade point with the integrated customs and international immigration checkpoint, Moreh plays an important role in India's Look East Policy, trade and commerce under ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, India-Myanmar relationship, India–Myanmar–Thailand road connectivity, and Trans-Asian Railway connectivity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hpakant</span> Town in Kachin State, Myanmar

Hpakant is a town in Hpakant Township, Kachin State in the northernmost part of Myanmar (Burma). It is located on the Uyu River 350 km north of Mandalay. It is famous for its jade mines which produce the world's best quality jadeite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mu River</span> River in Myanmar

Mu River is a river in upper central Myanmar (Burma), and a tributary of the country's chief river, the Irrawaddy. It drains the Kabaw valley and part of the Dry Zone between the Ayeyarwady to the east and its largest tributary the Chindwin River to the west. It flows directly north to south for about 275 km (171 mi) and enters the Ayeyarwady west of Sagaing near Myinmu.

The Uyu River, also pronounced Uru River, is a river in northern Myanmar, formerly Burma. It is a major tributary of the Chindwin River, itself the largest tributary of the country's chief river, the Ayeyarwady. Its source lies in the Hukawng Valley of Kachin State, and it takes a southwesterly course through a fertile and well irrigated valley. It enters the Chindwin on the left bank at Homalin in Sagaing Division.

The Kabaw Valley also known as Kubo valley is a highland valley in Myanmar's western Sagaing Division, close to the border with India's Manipur. The valley is located between Yomadong range of mountains, which constitute the present-day India–Myanmar border, and the Chindwin River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipur River</span> River in Manipur, India / Myanmar

Manipur River, also called Kathe Khyoung, is a river in India's Manipur state that flows into the Chin State of Myanmar, where it merges with the Myittha River, a tributary of the Chindwin river. It passes through Tonzang and Tedim town of Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hkamti Township</span> Township in Sagaing Region, Burma

Hkamti Township or Khamti Township is a township in Hkamti District in the Sagaing Region of Burma (Myanmar). The principal town is Hkamti. As of 2014 the township had a population of 47,658 people and covered an area of 8,174 square kilometres (3,156 sq mi). The township is dominated by the Chindwin River and its tributaries as well as thickly forested areas. Nearly half the active working population are employed in agriculture, forestry or fishing. The township is a producer of rice and has gold and jade reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homalin Township</span> Township in Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Homalin Township is a township in Hkamti District in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. The principal town is Homalin. The principal rivers flowing through the township are the Chindwin River form north to south and the Uyu River from east to west, joining the Chindwin near Homalin town.

The Imphal River, also known as the Turel Achouba, is a major river in Manipur state, northeastern India which originates from the northern side of Kangpokpi district. It is a tributary of the Manipur River, joining it in Thoubal district. It flows past Loktak Lake and the city of Imphal and joins the Lilong River, some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the south. It flows towards Myanmar (Burma), marking the end point at 23°59'49.2"N 93°44'29.7"E. It then goes south meeting Myittha River at 22°53'24.19"N, 94° 5'1.79"E. Myittha river flows towards north and meets Chindwin River at 23°11'36.82"N, 94°18'38.28"E. Chindwin river then meets Irrawaddy River at 21°25'23.85"N, 95°16'47.56"E. Irrawaddy river then flows south till it ends at Andaman Sea, adjoining the Bay of Bengal and thereby connecting Imphal city to the sea. Imphal River was used by Japanese soldiers in boats to reach Imphal in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei inscriptions</span> Inscriptions of Meitei language

Meitei inscriptions are Meitei language inscriptions cut into stone slabs. They are a major source of information about the ancient history of the Meitei people and the kingdom of Kangleipak. They are mainly found in the hills as well as the plains of present-day Manipur. They were written using either the Meitei script or the Bengali script.

Chakpa Makhao Ngambi was the Burmese queen of Toungoo dynasty of Kingdom of Ava and the Meitei princess of Ningthouja dynasty of Kangleipak. She was the Queen consort of King Taninganway of Myanmar, until her abdication after having a son. By birth, she was a first-degree relative of King Charairongba of Manipur Kingdom and a second-degree relative of King Pamheiba Garib Niwaj, Charairongba's successor. Her abdication from the Burmese throne caused a long time international conflict between the Meiteis and the Bamars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people in Myanmar</span> Ethnic group

The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people, are a minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They are better known as the Kate, Cassay, or Ponna in Myanmar. They number around 25,000 and reside mainly in the eastern states of Kachin and Shan, Yangon division, Sagaing division, Ayeyarwaddy division, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri–Burmese wars of 1717 to 1749</span>

The Manipur – Burmese wars of 1717–1749 were a series of conflicts between Manipur under Gharib Niwaz and the Toungoo dynasty of Burma.

References

  1. ↑ "Chindwin".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Chikamori, Hidetaka; Liu, Heng; Daniell, Trevor. Myanmar 1. Chindwin River (PDF).
  3. ↑ Pemberton, R. Boileau (1835). Report On The Eastern Frontier Of British India. Baptist Mission Press, Kolkata. pp. 19–20.; McCulloch, W.Maj (1859). Account of the Valley of Munnipore and of the Hill Tribes; with a Comparative Vocabulary of the Munnipore and other Languages. Bengal Printing Company Limited (Calcutta). pp. 8–40.; Siṃha, Kārāma Manimohana (1989), Hijam Irabot Singh and Political Movements in Manipur, B.R. Publishing Corporation, ISBN   978-81-7018-578-9
  4. ↑ "Chindwin River | river, Myanmar | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25. Called Ningthi by the Manipuris of India, it drains northwest through the Hukawng valley and then begins its 520-mile (840-kilometre) main course.
  5. ↑ "GENERAL / LATEST NEWS: ENVIS Centre, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India". manenvis.nic.in. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. National Informatics Centre . Retrieved 2023-03-25. The first being the Irrawaddy River Drainage system, where water flowing through the rivers of Manipur falls first into the Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) and thereafter into the Irrawaddy River before discharging into the Bay of Bengal. . . . The Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) System includes Tuijang, Taret and Maklang river basins.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ↑ "AIMS writes to Waterways Minister to redevelop inland waterways". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25. The riverine systems of Manipur falls into two major systems namely the Irrawaddy River System, where water flowing through the rivers of Manipur falls first into the Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) and thereafter into the Irrawaddy River before discharging into the Bay of Bengal ...
  7. 1 2 3 Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chindwin"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 232.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2018-08-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Chindwin River". Encyclopædia Britannica online. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  10. ↑ "Earth from Space". NASA, November 1998. Archived from the original on 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  11. ↑ "River Discharge and Reservoir Storage Changes Using Satellite Microwave Radiometry".
  12. ↑ "The Flood Observatory".
  13. 1 2 "Hpakan Other Rock Mine(Myanmar)". aditnow.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  14. 1 2 Richard W. Hughes; Fred Ward. "Heaven and Hell: The Quest for Jade in Upper Burma". Ruby-Sapphire.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  15. ↑ "Map of Sagaing Division". Asterism. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  16. ↑ "Rationale for a National Tiger Action Plan for Myanmar" (PDF). Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  17. ↑ Phanjoubam Tarapot (2003). Bleeding Manipur. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 112–3. ISBN   978-81-241-0902-1 . Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  18. ↑ Baruah, Sri Surendra. "The Stillwell Road A Historical Review". Tinsukia. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  19. ↑ "Chindwin River". The Pacific War Online Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  20. ↑ Andrew Hsiu which taken from a journal titled "Morphological Evidence for a Central Branch of Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan)." by Scott DeLancey which was published on 2015

Bibliography

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.