Hotan River

The Hotan River (also known as the Gosthana River, Khotan River or the Ho-t'ien River) is formed by the union of the White Jade (Yurungkash) and Karakash (Black Jade) Rivers, which flow north from the Kunlun Mountains into the Taklamakan Desert in northern China. The two rivers unite towards the middle of the desert, some 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of the town of Hotan. The river then flows 290 kilometres (180 mi) northwards across the desert and empties itself into the Tarim River.[2] Because the river is fed by melting snow from the mountains, it only carries water during the summer and is dry the rest of the year. Prior to construction of the Tarim Desert Highway in 1995, the Hotan river bed provided the only transportation system across the Tarim Basin.[3]

Map including the Hotan River (labeled as Ho-tien Ho) and surrounding region (USATC, 1971)[lower-alpha 1]
Hotan River
Gosthana River
The Hotan River is formed by the union of the White Jade and Black Jade Rivers in northern China.[1]
Native nameخوتەن دەرياسى
和田河
Physical characteristics
SourceKarakash River, White Jade River
 • coordinates38.08°N 80.56°E / 38.08; 80.56
MouthTarim River
 • coordinates
40.478479°N 80.944169°E / 40.478479; 80.944169
Basin features
ProgressionTarim→ Taitema Lake
Hotan River
Uyghur name
Uyghurخوتەن دەرياسى‎
Chinese name
Chinese和田河
Old name
Traditional Chinese和闐河
Simplified Chinese和阗河

Wells

In the mid-20th century, wells along the course of the river included (south to north): Hsüeh-erh-ch'i-k'o-ma, Chi-la-mu-yeh-te-tao, Ai-k'o-t'i-ken, Ch'i-erh-ko-han-t'u-mu-shu-k'o, A-ya-k'o-wu-ssu-tan, Man-ta-t'u-mu-shu-k'o, Lo-tsa-pai-t'u-mu-shu-k'o, Yeh-ma-la-k'o-tao, Po-lo-ch'u-shih-kan, Hsi-t'i-pa-ku-t'an and Ya-erh-te-ku-tzu.[4]

References
  1. http://www.travel-silkroad.com/english/dongfanwenming/history/htsj/gyzkc.htm
  2. "Khotan-Darya". 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
  3. The Southwest Taklimakan Desert Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine from NASA's Geomorphology from Space Archived 2006-09-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  4. "NJ 44 Ho-tien". Washington, D. C.: U.S. Army Topographic Command. 1971 – via Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection. Hsüeh-erh-ch'i-k'o-ma (well){...}Chi-la-mu-yeh-te-tao (well){...}Ai-k'o-t'i-ken (well){...}Ch'i-erh-ko-han-t'u-mu-shu-k'o (well){...}A-ya-k'o-wu-ssu-tan (well){...}Man-ta-t'u-mu-shu-k'o (well){...}Lo-tsa-pai-t'u-mu-shu-k'o (well){...}Yeh-ma-la-k'o-tao (well){...}Po-lo-ch'u-shih-kan (well){...}Hsi-t'i-pa-ku-t'an (well){...}Ya-erh-te-ku-tzu (well)

Notes
  1. From map: "DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE".


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