Key Facts about the Sutlej River

About Sutlej River:

• It is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus River.
• It is also known as "Satadree".
• Origin: It rises on the north slope of the Himalayas in Lake Rakshastal in southwestern Tibet at an elevation above 15,000 feet (4,600 metres).
• Course:
  • The river enters India by flowing west and south-westwards through the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 6,608 metres. 
  • The river then flows through Punjab near Nangal before meeting the Beas River. The merger of these two rivers goes on to form 105 Km of the India-Pakistan border. 
  • The river continues to flow for another 350 Km before joining the Chenab River.
  • The combination of the Sutlej and Chenab Rivers form the Panjnad, which finally flows into the Indus River.
• Length: It has a total length of 1550 km, out of which 529 km is in Pakistan. 
• Tributaries: It has many tributaries, with Baspa, Spiti, Nogli Khad and Soan River being its main ones.
• Water from the Sutlej River has been allocated to India according to the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. 
• There are several major hydroelectric projects on the Sutlej, including the 1,000 MW Bhakra Dam, the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant, and the 1,530 MW Nathpa Jhakri Dam.