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The Indus River Basin watershed is located in Asia, and spans three separate countries, China, Pakistan, and India. It Begins in the mountains in China, spans the entire length of Pakistan, and enters India where it drains into the Arabian Sea.
* The video below provides an overview of the Indus River (GeorgiaStandards.Org, 2017).

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The source of the watershed is located in the Tibetan Plateau, at the base of three mountain ranges the: Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram Range. The mountains feed the river with snow melt which makes up the origin source of water in the River. (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below is of the entire Indus River Basin (“indus+basin.jpg (300×400),” n.d.).

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The mouth of the Indus drains primarily into the Arabian Sea at an average rate of 230,000 cubic feet per second, and when it floods it also drains into the Rann of Kutch. Typically, the flood season occurs between July and September which is when the rainy season, and increased warming and melting of the snow combine to cause excess water.

* The picture below shows the Arabian Sea (“arabsea.gif (426×427),” n.d.).

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The typical flow of the Indus is estimated at 58 cubic miles annually. While the Indus River itself is about 2000 miles long, the watershed reaches 450,000 square miles. The Indus River is also unique because it has what is called a tidal bore. A tidal bore is a very strong current that pushes in the direction up river rather than down (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows a tidal bore  (“Tidal-bore.jpg (433×303),” n.d.).

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Political Conflicts- Part 1: British Rule

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Political Conflicts- Part 1: British Rule

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Between 1858 and 1947 the British imposed direct rule over what they called India. That meant that they also controlled much of the Indus River. Under the British rule there were a series of canals built along with a complex irrigation system, both of which are still in operation today. When the crowns rule came to an end there was debate between Pakistan and India over usage of the River (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows British authority in India (“the-battle-of-plassey-helped-establish-british-control-over-india-and-bring-it-access-to-the-countrys-commodities-and-control-trading-routes.jpg (590×443),” n.d.).

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Political Conflict - Part 2: The Indus Water Treaty

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Political Conflict - Part 2: The Indus Water Treaty

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In 1960 the two countries signed the Indus Waters Treaty and split the water ways. India was given control over the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers which made up the eastern part of the Punjab. Pakistan took control over the western Punjab Rivers the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows the split in the Indus Water Treaty (“indus-water-treaty-a.gif (209×276),” n.d.).

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Since there is little rainfall in the region, most agriculture in Pakistan relies on the water from the Indus in order to grow food and other crops. The main crops that are cultivated in the River region are cotton, rice, and wheat, all of which are made possible due to the irrigation systems that they have in place (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows rice fields near the Indus River (“p02m7zp8.jpg (1280×866),” n.d.).

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Ancient Civilization - Part 2: The People

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Ancient Civilization - Part 2: The People

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The Indus people are known for their use of advanced technologies such an urban sewage system, and standardized weights and measurements. These early settlers of the Indus River Valley were wiped out as a civilization and though no one can say for certain why it happened, it is thought that it could have something to do with the changing course of the river (Champakalakshmi, Subrahmanyam, 2019).

* The image below shows one of the early sewage systems created by the Indus (“sewer-mohenjo-daro.jpg (200×277),” n.d.).

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Ancient Indus Civilization - Part 1: The land

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Ancient Indus Civilization - Part 1: The land

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The Indus River Valley is where one of the earliest civilizations settled. Large cities, such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, formed along the River because it provided water for drinking, bathing, and washing clothes.  For farmers the river was especially important because the valley was fertile and the water from the river was used for irrigation (Champakalakshmi, Subrahmanyam, 2019).

* The image below shows architecture from Mohenjo-daro (“160265-004-4908C02F.jpg (550×400),” n.d.).

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Ecologically the Indus River watershed is home to a diverse amount of species. There are many different amphibian species, dolphins, otters, and over 180 types of fresh water fish that inhabit the river. The fish population is actually very high in the Indus which leads to fish farming being a large industry (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below is one species of Indus River Otter (“1378267031otterCI.jpg (680×750),” n.d.)

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There are more than 180 million people who rely on water from the Indus River in Pakistan alone. Their population is rapidly growing and so is the need for water. The river is vital for the people of Pakistan as this is where most of their drinking water comes from, and it is an important resource for many industries. The Indus valley is a semi-arid plain region, which makes the river even more important. Some areas do not receive much rainfall and for most of the year rely completely on the river to keep the surrounding land fertile and well suited for agriculture (Pappas, 2011).

* The image below shows a person swimming in the Indus River (“img_6541.jpg (3456×2304),” n.d.).

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The irrigation present along the Indus River dates back as far as 1850. Many of the first canals and channels were revitalized and modernized during the British rule from 1858 to 1947. The irrigation that was built at the direction of the British was at the time the best system of irrigation in the world, and many still believe this to be true. Following the Indus Water Treaty (1960), the main irrigation canals were split between Pakistan and India (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows a part  of the irrigation system along the Indus River (“1203-sanders-river-dolphin3.jpg (600×450),” n.d.).

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Although the irrigation is a vital tool for transporting water to the people in the Indus River Basin it also has its drawbacks. Without proper maintenance the canals can become clogged with sediments reducing the quality and amount of water that is being transported. The irrigation also affects the surrounding soil which can increases in salinity and therefore is no longer appropriate for agriculture (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows a map of the dams, barrages and canals in the Indus River Basin (“f090518f1.gif (500×532),” n.d.).

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The Indus River dolphins are one of only four subspecies of dolphin that can live in freshwater. The Indus River dolphin once inhabited most of the Indus River, but since the construction of  irrigation systems, dams, and barrages, now only live in the southern region. The habitat reduction, along with pollution, and poaching has caused the Indus River Dolphins to decline in population and they are now considered an endangered species. The 750 mile portion of river in which the dolphins reside is very muddy and because of this they are thought to be functionally blind. The people of the Pakistan know that the dolphins are important for judging the health of the Indus River and have been working since the early 2000's to raise the population. Their efforts have been effective and since 2001 it is estimated that the population has grown by 50 percent to 1,816 (WWF, n.d.) .

* The image blow shows the Indus River dolphin (“Indus_River_Dolphin.jpg (640×480),” n.d.).

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Vegetation near the Indus River is not thriving. Due to the semi- desert type climate there is little growth aside from some grass in many areas. There are several reasons for this, one being that the soil is poor in nutrients because of the heavy irrigation. Overgrazing by livestock and deforestation by humans also are at fault for further impacting the amount of vegetation in the area. Near the upper part of the Indus there has been some successful work toward reforestation (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows the desert landscape around the Indus (“leh-4231.jpg (1000×750),” n.d.).

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Annual precipitation is as low as 5 inches in some regions and as high as 20 inches in other regions. Some of that precipitation is in the form of rainfall, which is most common between the months of July through September. That period is when the Indus River Valley experiences monsoon rains. Snow, which falls in the mountain ranges, accounts for the other portion of precipitation in the Indus River Basin (Ahmad & O’Lodrick, 2019).

* The image below shows snow in the mountainous region of the Indus River Basin (“NFzZYqaMipvISVA-1600x900-noPad.jpg (1600×900),” n.d.).

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Climate change is a huge threat to the Indus River. The Indus begins at the Tibetan Plateau where water flows from glacial and snow melt. Seasonally the flow of water that comes from this area can vary. When the weather is cold there is less melt and a slower flow, but when it is warm there is more melt and a larger more rapid flow. As global temperatures rise there are both short- and long-term effects that will impact the Indus River (Miller, Immerzeel, & Rees, 2012).

* The image below shows effects of rising temperatures throughout the planet (“Climate-ChangeNEW_1508747a.jpg (1199×713),” n.d.).

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In the shorter term there will be more glacial and snow melt causing more flooding for the people that live in the Indus Valley. Flooding can be extremely detrimental, it can wash away home, industry, livestock, and even cause people to die (Miller, Immerzeel, & Rees, 2012).

* The image below shows flooding in the Indus River Valley (“145430-004-3256D0B1.jpg (550×351),” n.d.).

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In the long term the effects could be catastrophic. The glacier only has so much mass, over time that will run down and eventually disappear. When that happens, aside from rains, there will be nothing supplying water to the Indus. If the River dries up that will certainly devastate all the people who rely on it for survival (Miller, Immerzeel, & Rees, 2012).

* The image below portrays what it could look like if the Indus were to dry up completely (“00000153-af71-d742-a553-bffd01370000-the-mighty-river-that-dried-up-i-am-red.jpeg (1920×1080),” n.d.).

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Many people in Pakistan, especially in rural areas, use water directly from the Indus for domestic purposes such as preparing foods, and bathing. Since this water is untreated it is not safe for human consumption. In one large city, Karachi, it causes an estimated 30,000 deaths per year, the large majority of whom are children (Pappas, 2011).

* The image below shows the city of Karachi (“53f345d872228.jpg (1200×720),” n.d.).

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The climate in the Indus River Basin varies drastically in different areas and seasons. The mountainous regions in the northern part of the the Indus River Basin experience below freezing temperatures during the winter months. The lower areas in the Indus River Valley are considered a dry semi-desert. In the summer months temperatures in Sindh and Punjab can reach 120 degrees, making them some of the hottest places on the planet The climate in the Indus River Basin varies drastically in different areas.

*  The image below shows different climates and levels of percipitation in the Indus River Basin (“31550603823_bc6efb0fd9_o.png (2000×1760),” n.d.).

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There are many factors that play into the pollution of the Indus River. One major one is waste from factories on the banks of the Indus. Another is poor sewage in the more rural areas that ends up in the River. Lastly some fisherman are believed to use poisons while fishing. The pollution is a causing a reduction in the diversity if the fish populations as well as a contributing factor to the endangerment of the Indus dolphins (Pappas, 2011).

* The image below shows waste being dumped into the Indus (“900-489549281-water-pollution-in-river.jpg (900×600),” n.d.).

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The Indus River is facing many challenges at the moment. With: Dams that are decreasing biodiversity, irrigation that is disrupting the soil, pollution that  is making a main water source for millions dangerous, and climate change, it is easy to see that there are changes that need to be made.

* image: (“Software-Solutions.jpg (560×400),” n.d.).

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Dams are a problem for the Indus River Valley. They prevent fish and other marine animals from being able to travel to certain parts of the River. In some cases this has caused habitat fragmentation like is the case for the Indus River dolphin. In order to make travel for those species who call the Indus home easier, and safer, a bypass should be built so that the marine animals can pass through.

* image: (“hqdefault.jpg (480×360),” n.d.).

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To prevent further land from becoming poor for cultivation it is important that people who live along the Indus stop their participation in deforesting the areas on the banks of the river. This will give the soil more stability and possibly more nutrients so it wont be as susceptible to the issues of irrigation.
* image: (“shutterstock_300375812.jpg (1000×734),” n.d.).

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Climate change is not something that the people of the Indus River Basin can combat themselves. There needs to be a global effort towards cutting down on total green house gas emissions. A large effort like this may be difficult to implement, but lawmakers need to make it a priority before it is too late.

*image: (“1200-123213066-global-warming.jpg (1200×1200),” n.d.).

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Pollution in the Indus is something very important to be addressed. There are tens of thousands of people dying each year from utilizing the water out of the River. Many of the people rely on this water and often have no choice but to use it. The Sindh EPA has been working on shutting down all of its factories along the Indus in accordance with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997. This is certainly a step in the right direction, however more needs to be done. Proper Sewage systems need to be put in place for those rural areas that do not already have them. This will prevent the waste from ending up in the River. Fishing also needs to be more strictly regulated so that fishermen cannot use poisons in the water  (“Indus River,” 2019) .

*image: (“4469949462_159fa28c18_z.jpg (640×382),” n.d.).

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 2: The River

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 2: The River

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The only way that it can be possible to stop this the Indus River from its fate is for people to work together to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Collaboration is vital so that the climate does not warm any more. No one person can stop global warming, but many people coming together with a common goal can make the necessary changes (Miller, Immerzeel, & Rees, 2012).

*image: (“257717,xcitefun-indus-river-map-1.jpg (1024×869),” n.d.).

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 1: Intro

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 1: Intro

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The 2011 novel Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, is set in a time where the planet is in complete disarray. All of the world’s problems have come to a head and people are using technology in the form of virtual reality as an escape. There are many themes present in this novel, but one that stands out is the importance of collaboration. This same theme has been echoed in the many issues that our society is facing, this includes issues in the Indus River Valley (Cline, 2011).

*Image: (“1200x630bb.jpg (420×630),” n.d.)

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Ready Player One Connection - Part 3: The Novel

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Ready Player One Connection - Part 3: The Novel

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In Ready Player One the main character Wade (Parzival) sets out on a mission to find the Easter eggs hidden within the virtual reality world called the OASIS, in hopes of inheriting the fortune of its late creator. Throughout Wade’s journey in OASIS he tries to accomplish his mission alone, but along the way he realizes that it would be easier to achieve his mission with the help of other players. When Wade reaches the end of the game ultimately winning, the creator Halliday left him a parting message telling him how important it is to connect with others. It’s the message that Wade learned throughout his journey. Connection and collaboration between people are fundamental in order to create or change things (Cline, 2011).

*image: (“ready_player_one_movie_book_changes.jpg (1376×808),” n.d.)

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 4: Conclusion

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Ready Player One Connection- Part 4: Conclusion

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The importance of collaboration in both of these cases is apparent. In Ready Player One it would have been impossible for Wade to reach his goals alone. Collaborating and coming up with new, and creative solutions with the help of other players enabled him to reach his ultimate goal. The same can be true for reducing the human impact on the world. In order to prevent any future climate change people, need to be able to collaborate and create innovative new solutions. This is the only way that we can save the planet from devastation (Cline, 2011).

* Image: (“working-together-to-change-our-planet.jpg (1445×1445),” n.d.).