The Hotan River

The Hotan River

The Hotan River

The scenic section of the Hotan River is located in the Taklamakan Desert, with a total river length of about 400 meters. This area is arid, receives little rainfall, and experiences large temperature variations. The average annual rainfall is 26 mm, while evaporation reaches 2,545.5 mm. The highest temperature in July can reach 43.7°C, and the lowest in January drops to -28.9°C. The river channel winds through the sand dunes, with an average gradient of 0.06‰. The river’s flow is concentrated during the flood season, when peak discharges are high and volumes substantial, resulting in a high sediment load that causes the river channel to shift frequently. The average annual flow of the Hotan River is 11.2

cubic meters. Due to the extremely high evaporation compared to precipitation in the desert, the mineral content of the downstream water is twice that of the river source, with a total hardness reaching 13.8.

The Hotan River is the only river that traverses the heart of the Taklamakan Desert, stretching 1,127 km in total. Its upper reaches consist of two tributaries originating from the Kunlun Mountains: the Yurungkash River and the Karakash River. These two rivers converge at Qushlashi and are then collectively referred to as the Hotan River. The lower reaches of the Hotan River form a typical alluvial plain braided stream, with a wide and shallow riverbed that can be as broad as 5 km and as narrow as 1.5 km. The river meanders significantly, carries a relatively high sediment load, and has an average annual sediment concentration of 9.85 kg/m³. Due to sediment deposition in the riverbed, the downstream channel often shifts, forming numerous mid-channel bars, point bars, and meandering loops. Natural forests dominated by grey poplar and desert poplar grow in ribbon-like patterns along both banks of the river. Each year after the flood season, the wide riverbed becomes a sandy beach. When blown by the wind, the shifting sands ripple like waves, and under the blazing sun, from a distance, they resemble undulating blue waters.