Teesta River

The Tista in Kalimpong

The Tista ( Bengali: তিস্তা, Tista; anglicized Teesta ) is an approximately 470 km long tributary of the Brahmaputra. It arises from glaciers of the Himalayas in the north of the Indian state of Sikkim, flows through it in a deep valley, and forms the border between Sikkim to Kalimpong and West Bengal. In Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh to open into the Jamuna, as the Brahmaputra is called in Bangladesh.

Headwaters in Osthimalaya

The top Tista collects from melting waters of the north, to the cold, dry Tibetan plateau facing glaciers, as their sources but mostly apply the uppermost glacial lakes. They are located at altitudes 5100-5600 meters. The Tista then turns south and reaches, in the West is dominated by the 8586 meter high Kangchenjunga, very quickly deeper, much richer precipitation valley areas. This almost invariably steep valley system independent of the Tista occupies the territory of Sikkim almost entirely. Towns and settlements are limited to the few Verebnungen in the widespread non- endangered slopes. The rocks are often little solidified and weather easily. They consist of gneisses, phyllites, granites and limestones. The topography is also reflected in the name of the indigenous people of the Lepcha who call themselves here Rong Kup ( " Canyon People ").

The main line of the mountain range crossing the valley was used despite its steepness early as the transition to Tibet. Today, the economic importance of the valley is seen especially in its potential for the use of hydropower. The Indian State to the Sikkim Since 1975, facilitates the construction of 26 hydroelectric power plants in the valley. In its upper reaches the Tista is also used for white water rafting.

Underflow in the Bengal lowland

Upon exiting the mountains, the Tista enters the state of West Bengal. It leads here around 600 m³ / s of water. Your water supply takes in the course to its confluence with the Jamuna by the high annual precipitation totals still clearly, but a large barrage leads up to 280 m³ / s for irrigation purposes in a 4,500 -kilometer-long canal system, since the monsoonal precipitation to a few months are concentrated and must be operated during the dry season irrigation farming.

While the flood of very muddy river promote the fertility of the soil by settling suspended solids, also led in the past but to flow displacements up to 100 kilometers. The Tista was until the late 18th century, the headwaters of three river branches, of Karatoya, Atrai and Jamunaswari that flow into the Ganges. The name Tista is hereby brought into connection: Tri- Srota ( " the Dreistromige "). In the disastrous flood of 1787, the river broke out east to the Brahmaputra, the least since that event dominating main stream of the Meghna river system.

• German Tibet Expedition Ernst Schäfer (1938 /39)

Look into Tistatal

Bridge with caravan

Landscape shot, Tista