Bhote Koshi in Nepal and Poiqu in Tibet (both names roughly mean "Tibetan river") is the name given to the upper course (main tributary) of the Sun Koshi river. It is part of the Koshi River system in Nepal.Shrestha, A. B., Eriksson, M., Mool, P., Ghimire, P., Mishra, B., & Khanal, N. R. (2010). Glacial lake outburst flood risk assessment of Sun Koshi basin, Nepal. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk 1(2): 157–169.
Names and etymology Bhote koshi is the Nepali name (). In the Nepali language, bhote or bhotiya means Tibetan, while koshi means river. The name is not unique: a western tributary of the upper Dudh Kosi is also called Bhote Koshi. The upper course of the Trishuli River in Rasuwa District is likewise known as Bhote Koshi.
It was called Po Chu () by early 1990s Everest expeditions, which name means the "river of Tibet." It is spelt Poiqu or Boqu () in Chinese sources.
The Tibetan name of the river is Matsang Tsangpo ().
River course
The headwaters of the Poiqu and Bhote-Sun Koshi River are located at the Zhangzangbo Glacier in Tibet.Bajracharya, S. R., Mool, P. K., Shrestha, B. R. (2006). The impact of global warming on the glaciers of the Himalaya. Pages 231–242 in: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Geodisasters, Infrastructure Management and Protection of World Heritage Sites. Nepal Engineering College, Ehime College and National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal. The river flows out of the Lumi Chimi lake. When entering Nepal, it is called the Bhote Koshi. Further downstream, from the village of Bahrabise onwards, it is called the Sun Koshi.
Hazards In July 1981, a sudden ice avalanche caused a glacial lake outburst flood from the moraine-dammed Zhangzangbu-Cho Lake in the headwaters of the Bhote Koshi. The ensuing flow destroyed bridges, and sections of both the Arniko and the Nepal–China highways.Mool, P. K.; Joshi, S. P.; Bajracharya, S. R. (2001). Glacial Lake Outburst Floods and Damage in the Country. Pages 121–136 in: Inventory of Glaciers, Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods: Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region, Nepal. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu.
Tourism and sports The Bhote Kosi is used for both rafting and kayaking. It is the steepest river rafted in Nepal, with a gradient of 15 m per km. Bungee jumping or swinging over the Bhote Kosi has been described as the ‘ultimate experience’.
The river carves a steep and direct drop at the top that gradually eases to more placid streams and calmer pools with a 46-km run at the Lamosunga dam. The rapids are class IV-V at high flow, and III at lower levels. The river is steep and continuous with one rapid leading into another.
References
External links Bhote Kosi River (Upper Sun Kosi), OpenStreetMap, retrieved 19 December 2021. Sun Kosi River, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 19 December 2021. Arun River, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 19 December 2021. Sapta Kosi River, OpenStreetMap, retrieved 19 December 2021.