The Karakax River

The Karakax River

The Karakax River, also known as the Karakash River, is named after the high-quality black jade produced in the area, which is considered premium material for jade carving. Originating from the Karakoram Mountains, the river stretches 808 kilometers in length. It flows from the southwest to the north through the Karakax Oasis, and converges with the White Jade River at Qosh Tash to form the Hotan River.

The Karakax River has an annual runoff of 2.19 billion cubic meters, irrigating 67,000 hectares of farmland and benefiting 530,000 people. Both the Karakax River and the White Jade River are the largest rivers in Hotan. To make better use of water resources, diversion structures were built in the upper reaches of both rivers in the 1980s. These structures are layered, barrage-type water intake hubs that perform multiple functions including water diversion, flood discharge, and sediment removal. The design adopts frontal flood discharge, bottom-layer sediment discharge, and upper-layer lateral water intake. In terms of planning and design, the project drew on the successful experience of Hotan’s existing layered diversion structures, while adapting flexibly to local conditions. It introduced bold innovations and achieved breakthroughs. Over the past twelve years, the project has performed effectively and has received unanimous praise from central and regional government leaders as well as experts.