The Indus River

The Indus River is one of the longest rivers in Asia. It flows for about 1,980 miles. The river starts high in the mountains of Tibet and flows through Pakistan. It ends in the Arabian Sea. The country of India got its name from this river.

Ancient Cities

One of the oldest civilizations in the world grew along the Indus River. It is called the Indus Valley Civilization. People built big cities there more than 4,000 years ago. The cities had streets, houses made of bricks, and even bathrooms. Two famous old cities are called Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

Water for Life

The Indus River gives water to millions of people in Pakistan. Farmers use the water to grow wheat, cotton, and rice. Without the river, much of Pakistan would be a dry desert. The water comes from melting snow and glaciers in the mountains. In summer, monsoon rains also fill up the river.

Fun Facts

• The Indus River is one of the biggest rivers in the world by how much water it carries.
• A rare kind of dolphin that is almost blind lives in the Indus River.
• K2, the second tallest mountain in the world, is in the Indus River area.

Did You Know?

Some of the world's first farmers grew crops along the Indus River more than 9,000 years ago.