Chatra Gorge

The Chatra Gorge is a canyon cut by the Kosi River across the Mahabharat Range in Nepal.

Chatra Gorge
Chatra Gorge
The Kosi cuts through Mahabharat Range, Nepal creating Chatra Gorge
Length10 kilometres (6.2 mi) N-S
Width5 to 8 kilometres (3.1 to 5.0 mi)
Geography
Coordinates26°52′07″N 87°09′07″E 

Kosi river system

The Kosi, or Sapt Kosi, drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhote Koshi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun River, Barun River, and Tamur River. The combined river flows through the Chatra gorge in a southerly direction to emerge from the hills.[1][2]

The Sun Kosi contributes 44 per cent of the total water in the Sapta Koshi, the Arun 37 per cent and the Tamur 19 per cent.[3]

Of the rivers that form the Sapta Kosi, the three main tributaries, Sun Kosi, Arun and Tamur converge at Tribeni and enter Chatra Gorge.[4]

The Gorge

The Chatra Gorge is about 10 km long and is about 5–8 km wide. Downstream of the gorge, the river enters the alluvial plains forming a huge megafan covering around 16,000 km2.[4][5]

The gorge is located at 26°52′07″N 87°09′07″E. The initial or northern portion of the gorge is at an altitude of 115 metres (377 ft).[6]

Sapta Kosi High Dam

A 269 metres (883 ft) high dam is proposed to be built near Barahakshetra across the Sapta Kosi in the Chatra gorge. It will have a 3,000 MW power station and a barrage 8 km downstream with canals on both sides for irrigation.[7][8][9]

References
  1. Negi, Sharad Singh (1991). Himalayan rivers, lakes and glaciers. Kosi River System, p. 89. ISBN 9788185182612. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  2. Bahadur, Jagdish (2004). Himalayan snow and glaciers: associated environmental problems, progress. Kosi, p. 90. ISBN 9788180690914. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  3. K.L.Rao (1979). India's Water Wealth. p. 70. ISBN 9788125007043. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  4. Harbhajan Singh, B. Parkash and K. Gohain. "Facies analysis of the Kosi megafan deposits" (PDF). p. 88. Sedimentary Geolo~, 85 (1993) 87-113 87 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  5. "Anatomy of a flood, Kosi, India, 2008". scribd. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  6. Tom Woodhatch, "Nepal Handbook", p. 167, Footprint, ISBN 0658000160
  7. "India-Nepal Treaty". Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  8. "India, Nepal fast-track Sapta-Kosi power project". The Indian Express, 17 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  9. "Interlinking of rivers". Retrieved 2012-03-01.
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