The Shyok River originates at the Rimo Glacier. Its alignment is very unusual. Originating from the Rimo glacier, it flows in a southeasterly direction and, joining the Pangong Range, it takes a northwestern turn, flowing parallel to its previous path. Shyok Valley widens at the confluence with the Nubra River but suddenly turns into a narrow gorge near Yagulung (34°46′N77°08′E / 34.77°N 77.14°E / 34.77; 77.14), continuing through Bogdang, Turtuk[4] and Tyakshi before crossing into Baltistan. The valley again widens near its Saltoro River junction at Ghursay. The river joins the Indus at Keris, east of the town of Skardu.[5][6]
The Nubra River, originating from the Siachen glacier, also behaves like the Shyok. Before Diskit, the southeasterly flowing Nubra takes a northwest turn on meeting the river Shyok. The similarity in the courses of these two important rivers probably indicates a series of paleolithic fault lines trending northwest-southeast in delimiting the upper courses of the rivers.
Name
The name Shyok (or Shayog) is derived from Tibetan ཤག་མ (shag) 'gravel' + གཡོག་ (gyog) 'to spread' and therefore means 'gravel spreader', referring to the large quantities of gravel that the river deposits when it floods.[7] The name is sometimes incorrectly glossed as 'river of death'.[1]
The Chang Chen Mo River is formed in the vicinity of Pamzal in Changchinmo plains of Ladakh and flows westward. It ends when it empties into the Shyok River.[citation needed]
The Galwan River is in the southern part of Aksai Chin, Galwan originates in the area of Samzungling and flowing to the west which joins the Shyok River.[citation needed]
The Saltoro River begins in the skirts of the Saltoro Kangri peak ridge and flows to the southwest. Another branch starts from the western Siachen glaciers and flows to the west to join it at Dumsum village. North of the Ghursay Valley, it meets Mashburm Peak's Hushe River and empties into Shyok River in southwest.[citation needed]
