Five Rivers of Punjab, the Pentapotamia

Punjab is a region straddling the border between India and Pakistan. Most of the Punjab is an alluvial plain, It has deep and fertile soils, and bounded by mountains to the North. There are five river flows in Punjab region, although it has dry condition. Thats why, there are a rich agricultural area here. These five river were : Beas, Sutlej/Satluj, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. All of them are tributaries of the Indus river. Indus river is the longest river in Pakistan.

Beas river, rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India. The Beas river is mostly snowmelt from the high peaks of the Himalayas. The Sanskrit name of Beas river is "Vipasa". Beas river flows only in Indian Punjab. Because, this river merges with the Sutlej river at the south of Amritsar (Punjab state, India). The Beas River marks the eastern-most border of Alexander the Great's conquests in 326 BC.

Sutlej river source is at Lake Rakshastal in Tibet near Mount Kailas. it is 1,450 km long, and flows west through the Himalayas, across Himachal Pradesh and Indian Punjab, and then southwest across Punjab province of Pakistan. Because of it fast flows, this river was the energy source Of The Himalayan Regions. The total hydel power potential in Himachal Pradesh is assessed to be 20,000 mw of which about 50% is from the Sutlej basin. The Sutlej is also extensively used for irrigation, such as at the border of Himachal Pradesh and Indian Punjab, there are Bhakra Dam.

Ravi river originates in the Himalayas in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The total length of the river is about 720 km. This river flows near the city of Lahore. This city is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. The Ravi River flows on the northern side of Lahore. One of the greatest cities from Indus civilization, Harappa, is located near the former course of the Ravi river. The water of Ravi river is utilised for drinking purposes and irrigation.

Chenab river originates in the Himalayas in the Lahul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh, India. "Chenab" means "moon river". This river flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab. Chenab river has been dammed for Hydroelectric and Irrigation Project. It has important role in Agriculture and source of energy for India and Pakistan. Indian water blockade in Chenab river would force Pakistan depending more on imported wheat.

The last river was Jhelum. Jhelum river is the most western of the five rivers of Punjab. This river originates in Jammu and Kashmir and then passes through the Srinagar district. It has a total length of about 774 kilometers. Like Chenab, this river river has been dammed for Hydroelectric and Irrigation Project. The Jhelum enters the Punjab in the Jhelum District.

Punjab region, who has five river (pentapotamia in Greek), was one of the most fertile regions on Earth. This region called as "bread or food basket" of India and Pakistan. The principal crops of the region are barley, wheat, paddy, Bajra, maize and sugarcane. Cotton are also crops here.