White Jade River

The White Jade River, also known by the native names Baiyu or Yurungkash, is a river in the southern Xinjiang region of China.[1]

Yurungkash River
White Jade River, Baiyu River
Collecting jade in the White Jade River near Khotan in 2011
Native nameيورۇڭقاش دەرياسى
玉龙喀什河
Physical characteristics
SourceKunlun Mountains
 • coordinates35.527297°N 81.495070°E / 35.527297; 81.495070
MouthHotan River
 • coordinates
38.081296°N 80.562477°E / 38.081296; 80.562477
Basin size14,575 km2 (5,627 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average72.3 cubic metres per second (2,550 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionHotan→ Tarim→ Taitema Lake
White Jade River
Uyghur name
Uyghurيورۇڭقاش دەرياسى‎
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese玉龍喀什河
Simplified Chinese玉龙喀什河
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese白玉河

The head waters of the river rise in the Kunlun Mountains, in the area of Aksai Chin in Kashmir in the Togatax area (35.6°N 81.4°E / 35.6; 81.4). The river flows east for some 200 km and then north for another 200 km before passing through Khotan, China (37.11°N 79.97°E / 37.11; 79.97).[1] In Khotan, the river has yielded white river rocks which are also known as nephrite jade.[1] [2]

North of Khotan, it eventually dries up in the Taklamakan desert, its seasonal bed joined by that of the Black Jade River (Karakash River) near Koxlax (some 200 km north of Khotan, 38.08°N 80.56°E / 38.08; 80.56), from where it continues north as the Hotan River, which flows into the Tarim River. The river drains an area of 14,575 km2 (5,627 sq mi) and has a discharge of 72.3 cubic metres per second (2,550 cu ft/s).

The river gets its name from the white jade that is often found in its alluvial deposits. The jade can also however be found in semi-shallow areas of the river..

  • Yurungkash River near Hotan (2017).
  • Map including White Jade River (labelled as Yurungkash R (Khotan)) (RGS, early 20th century)
  • Map including the northern section of the White Jade River (labeled as Yü-lung-ha-shih Ho) and surrounding region (USATC, 1971)[lower-alpha 1]
  • Map including the southern section of the White Jade River (labeled as Yurung Kash) and surrounding region (AMS, 1950)[lower-alpha 2]
  • Map including the White Jade River (labeled as Ywungkax He (Yü-lung-k'o-shih Ho)) and surrounding region) (DMA, 1980)[lower-alpha 3]

See also

Notes
  1. From map: "DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE".
  2. From map: "THE DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES ON THIS MAP MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE."
  3. From map: "The representation of international boundaries is not necessarily authoritative."

References
  1. Jacobs, Andrew (September 20, 2010). "Jade from China's West Surpasses Gold in Value". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. Moore, Malcolm (August 8, 2008). "White jade rush in China's Wild West". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
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