The Brahmaputra River: Full Course from Tibetan Glacier to Bay of Bengal

Source & Upper Course (China/Tibet)

Origin: Angsi Glacier, Himalayas, Tibet (~5,300 m / 17,400 ft). Known as Yarlung Tsangpo.

Flows east 1,700 km across the Tibetan Plateau (avg. elevation 4,500+ m), gathering tributaries.

Great Bend & Entry to India

Turns south, carving the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon—one of Earth's deepest—through the Himalayas (peaks to 8,000 m). Enters Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Middle Course (India)

Joined by Dibang & Lohit Rivers. Flows through Assam Valley (~100 m elevation), becoming wide and braided. 900 km as Brahmaputra.

Lower Course (Bangladesh)

Enters as Jamuna (350 km). Merges with Ganges (Padma) → Meghna → Bay of Bengal.

Countries

China (Tibet), India, Bangladesh. Transboundary management is critical for 100M+ people dependent on its waters.