Chaukhamba Peak, the Saryu River and Congo basin

Description

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About Chaukhambha Peak

Chaukhamba is a mountain massif in the Gangotri Group of the Garhwal Himalaya.

It's main summit, Chaukhamba I, is the highest peak in the group. It lies at the head of the Gangotri Glacier and forms the eastern anchor of the group.

It is located in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, west of the Hindu holy town of Badrinath.

It has four summits, along a northeast-southwest trending ridge, ranging in elevation from 7,138 meters (23,419 ft) to 6,854 m (22,487 ft) with an average elevation 7,014 m; the main summit is at the northeast end.

Chaukamba I 7,138 m
Chaukamba II 7,070 m
Chaukamba III 6,995 m
Chaukamba IV 6,854 m

Chaukhamba I is an ultra-prominent peak, with a prominence of more than 1,500m. Mana Pass is the key col for Chaukhamba I.

Saryu River


Name	Sarju (also known as Sarayu)
Location	Central Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India
Origin	Sarmul (Sarmool), Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand
Cities on Course	Kapkot, Bageshwar, Seraghat
Confluence	Joins Mahakali at Pancheshwar
Largest Tributary	Sharda River
Border Formation	South-eastern border between Pithoragarh and Almora districts
Forest Coverage	Temperate and sub-Tropical forests in the catchment area
Etymology	Derived from Sanskrit root "to flow"; the feminine form refers to the river
Total Length	130 km
Tributaries
Gomati	Originates in Bhatkot, merges with Sarju at Bageshwar
Kuloor	Originates near Bhadrkali Temple, joins Sarju at Seraghat
Punger	Originates near village Sangar, joins from left at Sartana
Lahor	Small river, joins from right
Panar	Originates from Mornaula Range, joins near Rameshwar
Ramganga East	Originates from Namik Glacier, joins Sarju at Rameshwar
Significant Confluence Points	Gomati at Bageshwar, Ramganga at Rameshwar, Pancheshwar at Sharda River

Congo Basin


Location	West-central Africa, straddling the equator, encompassing the Congo River basin.
Geographic Borders	Bordered by the Sahara (north), Atlantic Ocean (south and west), East African Lakes (east).
Bordering Countries	Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.
Climate	It contains some of the largest tropical rainforests in the world and is an important source of water used in agriculture and energy generation. Tropical climate with high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and high humidity.
Rainforest	Home to the second-largest rainforest globally (Congo Rainforests, also known as Ituri rainforest).
Highlands	Central African Highlands in the eastern part, featuring significant elevation.
Peatlands	One of the world’s largest tropical peatlands, significant carbon sink.
Dominant River	Congo River, the second-largest river in Africa.
Drainage Area	Includes almost the entire Republic of the Congo, DRC, Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, parts of Cameroon and Tanzania.
Lakes	Lakes include Lake Tanganyika (second-deepest lake globally), Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Kivu, Lake Tumba, Lake Mai-Ndombe.
Mineral Resources	Rich in oil, diamonds, gold, and timber.
Biodiversity	Considered a biodiversity hotspot, home to gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and various bird species.
Carbon Sink	Largest carbon sink globally, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon rainforest. Approximately 29 billion tons of carbon stored, equivalent to three years’ worth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

About Congo:

Congo is a traditional name for the equatorial Middle Africa that lies between the Gulf of Guinea and the African Great Lakes. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi, the Uele and Ubangi rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands in the middle reaches.

Because of the young age and active uplift of the East African Rift at the headwaters, the river's yearly sediment load is very large, but the drainage basin occupies large areas of low relief throughout much of its area It is delineated largely by swells including the Bie, Mayumbe, Adamlia, Nil-Congo, East African, and Zambian Swells.

READ ABOUT IT-

Saryu River

The Congo Basin, Lungs of Africa

Source

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/dehradun-news/iaf-choppers-rescue-2-foreign-woman-mountaineers-stranded-near-chaukhamba-3-peak-101728197194117.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/tragic-drowning-in-saryu-river-sparks-outrage-over-alleged-dam-safety-violations/articleshow/114127198.cms

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/the-worlds-chocolate-cravings-speed-up-deforestation-in-the-congo-basin-study/

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.It is a major river draining Central Kumaon region in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the largest tributary of the Sharda River. The right-side tributaries of the river are Gomti and pannar. Bhuni, Sup, and Khatiare some of the famous ghats on this river's bank.

In the above-given passage, which among the following rivers is described?

(a) Tons River

(b) Mandakini River

(d) Pindar River

Answer: c

Explanation:

The Sarayu originates from Lake Mansarovar in the Himalayas and is also known as the Ghaghra and the Manas Nandini.

The Sarayu is the largest tributary of the Sharda River.

The length of the river is 350 km. Saryu is a major river draining the Central Kumaon region in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It merges into the Sharada River at Pancheshwar at the India-Nepal border. The Saryu river tributaries on the Right side are Gomti, pannar Lohar Left side Ramganga and Punger.

Sarayu flows through the cities of Kapkot, Bageshwar and Seraghat in the state of Uttarakhand. The famous city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is situated on the bank of the Sarayu river. The Sarayu River, revered in Hindu scriptures, is the lifeline of Ayodhya, offering a serene backdrop for spiritual rituals and contemplation. Bhuni, Sup, and Khatiare some of the famous ghats on this river's bank. Temperate and sub-Tropical forests cover the entire catchment area of the Sarayu River.