Satluj River
Satluj River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Makran range in Pakistan. Sutlej is sometimes known as the Red River
Satluj rises from beyond Indian borders in the South slopes of the Kailash Mountain near Mansarover Lake. It is the largest among the five rivers of Himachal Pradesh. It enters Himachal at Spiti (6,608 meters). In Himachal Pradesh it flows in the South-Westerly direction through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. It leaves Himachal Pradesh to enter the plains of Punjab at Bhakhra, where the world's highest gravity dam has been constructed on this river. Its total caught up area in Himachal Pradesh is 20,000 sq. km. Its total length is 1,448 km. Its Vedic name is Satudri and Sanskrit name Shatadru. The Satluj finally drains into the Indus in Pakistan. The upper tracts of the Satluj valley are under a permanent snow cover. The prominent human settlements that have come on the banks of the Satluj River are Namgia, Kalpa, Rampur Bushahr, Tattapani, Suni and Bilaspur.
Main Tributaries of river Satluj:
Baspa River: Baspa is an important tributary of the river Satluj in its. The Baspa is joined by many smaller channels draining snow melt waters. The Baspa River has cut across the main Himalayan range. Baspa River empties itself into the river Satluj in district Kinnaur. Baspa originates from the Baspa hills, joins it from the left bank near Kalpa. Satluj river leaves Kinnaur district in the West near Chauhra and enters Shimla district.
Spiti River: The Spiti River originates from Kunzum range. Water draining the famous Pin valley area are part of the Spiti river system. After flowing through Spiti valley, the Spiti River meets Satluj at Namgia in Kinnaur district. Its length approximately 150 km. The main settlement along the Spiti River and its tributaries are Hansi and Dhankar Gompa.
Soan River: The Soan river rises from the Southern slopes of the Shivalik range also known as Solasinghi range in the tract to the East of the Beas gap across the Southern periphery of the Kangra valley. It joins the boundary of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
