Jeong Nala

Jeong Nala
Jiwan Nala, Nacho Chu
Jeong Nala; Jiwan Nala, Nacho Chu
	Location of the mouth Jeong Nala (Southern Xinjiang)
Location
Countries	China and India
Provinces	Xinjiang and Ladakh
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Aksai Chin
• coordinates	35°03′58″N 78°31′58″E / 35.0661°N 78.5329°E
• elevation	5,500 metres (18,000 ft)
Mouth
• location	Shyok River
• coordinates	34°59′33″N 77°59′56″E / 34.9925°N 77.9989°E
• elevation	4,400 metres (14,400 ft)
Length	50 kilometres (31 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Murgo Nala, Shyok River
River system	Indus River

The Jeong Nala, also called Jiwan Nala^[1] and Nacho Chu,^[2] and called Xidagou (Chinese: 西大沟; pinyin: Xī dà gōu) by China, is a river of the Indus River system in the Aksai Chin region disputed by China and India. It originates at the eastern edge of the Karakoram Range in Chinese-administered Aksai Chin, and flows west into Indian-administered Ladakh, just to the south of the highly contested Depsang Bulge. It debouches into the Shyok River near Sultan Chushku in Ladakh.

Geography

15km
9.3miles

Karakash

Jeong Nala

Burtsa Nala

Shyok
River

Chip Chap

Chip Chap
River

DEPSANG PLAINS

Heweitan

Sultan
Chhushku

Murgo

Burtsa

Qizil Langar

Depsang La

Gapshan

Tianwendian

DBO

Karakoram Pass

🌍

Depsang Plains region
(and the "traditional customary boundary" points of China declared in 1960).^[3]

The Jeong Nala flows immediately to the south of the "Depsang Bulge", which remains a region of active contest between China and India as part of the Sino-Indian border dispute. Depsang Bulge houses the valley of the Burtsa Nala, which turns south near Murgo and merges with Jeong Nala shortly before the latter joins the Shyok River at Sultan Chushku (a campsite). The historical trans-Karakoram trade route crosses the Shyok River at Sultan Chushku and follows the valleys of Jeong Nala and Burtsa Nala towards Murgo. India's DS-DBO Road leading to Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) follows this historical route.

The Karakash River, just 10 km to the south of Jeong Nala, flows eastwards into the Tarim Basin, whereas Jeong Nala flows west into the Indus River system. China's Heweitan military base is situated on the bank of Karakash River, and exerts strategic control over the Jeong Nala valley.

The Tiankong Highway connecting Heweitan and Tianwendian bases passes through the Jeong valley. China also has constructed a motorable road in the Jeong valley, providing strategic access the Line of Actual Control with India.

References

↑ Bhattacharji, Ladakh (2012): "It is mispronounced—or perhaps deliberately changed—as ‘Jiwan’ by both Indian soldiers posted there and visiting surveyors; it makes for another example of thoughtless deculturisation of Ladakh being committed by people from the plains."
↑ Sandhu, P. J. S.; Shankar, Vinay; Dwivedi, G. G. (2015), 1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill, Vij Books India Pvt Ltd, p. 53, ISBN 978-93-84464-37-0: "By 24 Oct [1962], all the forward posts established in the Chip Chap and Nachu Chu river valleys had been withdrawn. DBO was also abandoned. 14 J&K Militia continued to hold Saser Brangsa, Murgo, Sultan Chushku and the junction of the Galwan and Shyok rivers."
↑ India, Ministry of External Affairs, ed. (1962), Report of the Officials of the Governments of India and the People's Republic of China on the Boundary Question, Government of India Press, Chinese Report, Part 1 (PDF) (Report). pp. 4–5.
The location and terrain features of this traditional customary boundary line are now described as follows in three sectors, western, middle and eastern. ... The portion between Sinkiang and Ladakh for its entire length runs along the Karakoram Mountain range. Its specific location is as follows: From the Karakoram Pass it runs eastwards along the watershed between the tributaries of the Yarkand River on the one hand and the Shyok River on the other to a point approximately 78° 05' E, 35° 33' N, turns southwestwards and runs along a gully to approximately 78° 01' E, 35° 21' N; where it crosses the Chipchap River. It then turns south-east along the mountain ridge and passes through peak 6,845 (approximately 78° 12' E, 34° 57' N) and peak 6,598 (approximately 78° 13' E, 34° 54' N).

Bibliography

Bhattacharji, Romesh (2012), Ladakh: Changing, Yet Unchanged, New Delhi: Rupa Publications – via Academia.edu

[Bhattacharji_Jiwan-1] Bhattacharji, Ladakh (2012): "It is mispronounced—or perhaps deliberately changed—as ‘Jiwan’ by both Indian soldiers posted there and visiting surveyors; it makes for another example of thoughtless deculturisation of Ladakh being committed by people from the plains."

[2] Sandhu, P. J. S.; Shankar, Vinay; Dwivedi, G. G. (2015), 1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill, Vij Books India Pvt Ltd, p. 53, ISBN 978-93-84464-37-0: "By 24 Oct [1962], all the forward posts established in the Chip Chap and Nachu Chu river valleys had been withdrawn. DBO was also abandoned. 14 J&K Militia continued to hold Saser Brangsa, Murgo, Sultan Chushku and the junction of the Galwan and Shyok rivers."

[declaration-3] India, Ministry of External Affairs, ed. (1962), Report of the Officials of the Governments of India and the People's Republic of China on the Boundary Question, Government of India Press, Chinese Report, Part 1 (PDF) (Report). pp. 4–5.
The location and terrain features of this traditional customary boundary line are now described as follows in three sectors, western, middle and eastern. ... The portion between Sinkiang and Ladakh for its entire length runs along the Karakoram Mountain range. Its specific location is as follows: From the Karakoram Pass it runs eastwards along the watershed between the tributaries of the Yarkand River on the one hand and the Shyok River on the other to a point approximately 78° 05' E, 35° 33' N, turns southwestwards and runs along a gully to approximately 78° 01' E, 35° 21' N; where it crosses the Chipchap River. It then turns south-east along the mountain ridge and passes through peak 6,845 (approximately 78° 12' E, 34° 57' N) and peak 6,598 (approximately 78° 13' E, 34° 54' N).

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