Six nation expedition traces Brahmaputra’s course
November 25th, 2010 - 11:38 pm ICT by IANSKolkata, Nov 25 (IANS) A six-nation rafting-cum-trekking expedition has successfully covered 3,000 km from the source of the river Brahmaputra in Tibet to its delta in the Bay of Bengal.
The 14-member team - comprising seven Indians, one Swiss, three Czechs, a new Zealander, an American and a German - took part in the first ever exploration on foot and by using inflatable boats of the river that flows through three nations - China, India and Bangladesh.
“The aim of our expedition is to focus worldwide attention on riverine ecology as also the livelihood and culture of the people living near the river banks,” said Swiss team leader Andy Leeman, after reaching the city in three inflated boats alongside the 13 other members of the contingent Thursday. The team arrived here from Bangladesh after the 55-day expedition.
The long journey started Oct 1 from the source of Brahmaputra near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
In the first stage, the team passed through southern Tibet Plateau where the Yarlung Tsangpo (Sky River) has its origin in the Chemayung-Dung glacier. The river then goes past the 7,782-m Mount Namche Barwa and flows into the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon - the world’s longest and deepest gorge.
The team members trekked on high altitude and rafted down some of the most punishable rapids as they covered the first phase of the expedition.
In the second phase, the expedition team started their rafting on the river in Assam and reached Bangladesh as they traversed through the waters on the Bay of Bengal.
- Difficult to verify Chinese activities on Brahmaputra: Minister - Jul 03, 2011
- Engage China in water dialogue: Experts - Feb 13, 2012
- 'India keeping watch on China's Brahmaputra plans' - Jun 14, 2011
- No threat from China dam on Brahmaputra: Manmohan Singh - Aug 04, 2011
- Satellites to verify China's claim on Brahmaputra: India (Second Lead) - Jun 16, 2011
- Keep an eye on China's dam plan, says Khursheed - Apr 04, 2011
- One killed, thousands displaced in Assam floods - Sep 10, 2010
- Bangladesh, a country that shares 54 rivers with India - Sep 06, 2011
- Brahmaputra crosses danger mark, Assam flood situation critical - Sep 14, 2010
- Eight-year-old boy completes adventurous rafting expedition in Zanskar river - Jul 18, 2010
- German expert working to tame the Brahmaputra - Jun 22, 2010
- Raise Brahmaputra diversion issue with China: BJP - Jun 13, 2011
- Swiss adventurer, crew to highlight condition of Ganges - Sep 10, 2009
- China dam no cause for immediate concern: India - Jun 14, 2011
- Assam floods displace 50,000 people - Apr 22, 2010
Tags: assam, bay of bengal, czechs, high altitude, inflatable boats, leeman, long journey, member team, mount kailash, namche barwa, new zealander, river banks, river brahmaputra, second phase, sky river, southern tibet, swiss team, tibet plateau, worldwide attention, yarlung tsangpo