Brahmaputra River
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Image:Brahmaputra-verlaufsgebiet.jpg Image:Chitwan dugout.jpg The Brahmaputra (Hindi: ब्रम्हपुत्र Bramhaputra, Bangla: ব্রহ্মপুত্র Bromhoputro) is one of the major rivers of Asia. In Sanskrit, it means "son of Brahma".
The river originates from the sacred Mount Kailash in the Himalaya in western Tibet (China), and passes through India before entering into Bangladesh and flowing into the Bay of Bengal, 2900 km from its source. The river is known as Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Luit or Brahmaputra in Assam, and its main branch in Bangladesh is the Jamuna (Jomuna). In Old Sanskrit, the river was called Lauhitya. The Bodos call the river Bhullumbutter, which some have suggested has been Sanskritised to Brahmaputra.
In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra splits into two branches: the much larger branch continues due south as the Jamuna (Jomuna) and flows into the Lower Ganges, or Padma (Pôdda), while the older branch curves southeast as the lower Brahmaputra (Bromhoputro) and flows into the Meghna. Both paths eventually reconverge near Chandpur, Bangladesh and flow out into the Bay of Bengal. Fed by the waters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, this river system forms the largest river delta in the world.
It is navigable for most of its length. The lower reaches are sacred to Hindus. The river is prone to catastrophic flooding in spring when the Himalayan snows melt.
It is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit a tidal bore. Most Indian and Bangladeshi rivers bear the name of a female, but this one has a rare male name, as putra means "son" in Sanskrit.
See also
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