FINDING THE TRUE SOURCE OF THE OXUS RIVER (AMU DARYA) AT LAKE MALANG

The source of the Oxus River (Amu Darya) has been a subject of geographical debate since antiquity. This article argues for a new source of the Oxus and builds on the research of Bill Colegrave who, in 2007, traced the river to the Chelab Stream in the Little Pamir at the eastern end of the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan. Following extensive research, in August 2025, the authors’ research team travelled up the valley of the Chelab Stream and examined its tributaries to assess which had the best claim to be the true source. Based on field observations, the team determined that the West Stream of the Chelab had a greater claim to be the main tributary, not the East Stream. The team then climbed to the head of the West Stream and found a new and permanent glacial lake dammed by moraine, which they named Lake Malang. The team gathered scientific supporting data including conducting a geomorphological survey and measurements of river length, flow and altitude. The authors argue that Lake Malang should be regarded as the true source of the Oxus River (Amu Darya).