Gandaki River

Course of the Kali Gandaki ( Gandak )

Kali Gandaki valley

The Kali Gandaki ( Nepali: कालीगण्डकी, Kaligandaki ) ( German: "Black Gandaki " because of the dark sediment ) is one of four major rivers of Nepal. It rises in Mustang on the border with Tibet and forms between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, the deepest gorge in the world. It flows there at an altitude of 1300-2600 m and 5500-6800 m is thus lower than the peaks to the east and west of its river valley. With its larger tributaries Seti Gandaki, Budhi Gandaki Madi and the Kali Gandaki drains the central part of the country. Kali Gandaki and Trisuli river unite to Narayani, which form the northern and western border of the Chitwan National Park together with his coming from the east tributary of Rapti. In Patna the Narayani flows into the Ganges. For centuries, ran along the Kali Gandaki an important trade route between Tibet and India, especially for salt and rice.

There is also the border river Mahakali, the Arun to the east and the Karnali in the west.

  • 2.1 Hydropower
  • 2.2 Road changed life in the valley

Geography and climate

Climate

The southwest Passat, the moist air from the Arabian Sea herträgt, raining on the Himalayan main ridge, which is crossed by the valley from. This are the low parts of the valley on the wet side of the Himalayan main ridge - and the higher sections on the dry side.

Therefore, the river crosses rapidly different climate zones. The change happens so quickly that some villages have their "own" climate. Examples - order downriver from north to south:

  • Kagbeni is situated on 2850 m above the sea and in the lee of two 8000ern ( Annapurna and Dhaulaghiri ). Agriculture here (including cereals and apple trees) is dependent on irrigation from the river, because there is no longer raining almost. The landscape here resembles a gravel desert during the day but at temperatures around 20 ° C.
  • Kalopani 30 km further on, at 2500 m above the sea in a pine forest. At first glance resembles the vegetation of a valley in the Alps. Typical plants are here but also sea buckthorn, hemp and bamboo.
  • Tatopani 17 km further on is at 1200 m and is already marked tropical. Here grow, among others, bananas and rice. You should also take care again about protection against malaria mosquitoes.

Due to small climatic characteristics of the region reign - from noon in the northern part of the valley from the village Larjung - south winds of gale force before that can make an inspection of the valley to the south massively.

Deepest valley in the world

The valley of the Kali Gandaki offers an interesting superlative: Between Kalopani and Larjung one stands at about 2540 m on the bottom of the deepest valley in the world, namely about 5.6 km below the summit of Dhaulagiris ( 8167 m ), where Dhaulagiri in west and Annapurna ( 8091 m) at this point only about 35 km apart in the east.

History

The area has a rich history. Finds from the Iron Age and the remains of more than three thousand years ago carved into the canyon walls are often vertical paths point to an early settlement.

In the headwaters of the Kali Gandaki the mystical transfigured and accessible only a few years upper Mustang is the capital of Lo Manthang. The river valley is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the country, the western part of the Annapurna Circuit leads largely through the valley. It lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area and tourists must purchase a permit for entry, which must be presented at checkpoints. For this, among other things, the ways and suspension bridges are maintained and carried out maintenance measures. Nevertheless, it may happen that you do not keep up with the repairs, especially during the monsoon season.

Hydropower

A few kilometers north of Tansen was a few years ago the largest hydroelectric plant in Nepal: About studs was taking advantage of the slope, shorted a large loop. In the dry season flows in the loop over a distance of about 20 km barely water so that adverse effects on the fauna of the river be feared.

Road changed life in the valley

Life in this valley begins to change through the connection to the road network from the ground up. So you can drive on asphalt by bus from Pokhara to Beni; to Muktinath and Lo Manthang the dirt track on this stretch of slopes for road vehicles and motorcycles is limited by the seasonal monsoon passable.

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