KUTI VALLEY | IAS GYAN

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Context

Multiple events of glacial advances have been witnessed from the Yankti Kuti valley since 52 thousand years that synchronises with climate variability, according to a new study.

Kuti Valley

Kuti Valleyis a Himalayan valley situated in the Pithoragarh District, Kumaon division of the Uttarakhand state of India.
Located in the eastern part of Uttarakhand, it is the last valley before the border with Tibet. It runs along a NW to SE axis, formed by the river Kuti Yankti, which is one of the headwaters of the Kali Riverthat forms the boundary between India and Nepal in this region.
This valley is mainly dominated by Byansis, one of the four Bhotiyacommunities of Kumaon, with the others being Johar, Darmiya and Chaudansi.
In May 2020, Nepal laid claim to the northeastern half of the valley, claiming that Kuthi Yanki represented the Kali River and it was meant to be Nepal's border by the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India said that the claim was not based on historical facts and evidence.

Kuthi Yankti

Kuthi Yankti is one of the two headwaters of the Kali River, the other being the Kalapani River that flows down from the Lipulekh Pass.
Kuthi Yankti emerges from slopes near Wilsha, below the Limpiyadhura range, and passes Lake Jolingkong at an altitude of 4,630 m, to the Kuti village. It flows southeast to merge with the Kalapani River near the Gunji village to form the Kali River (or Sharada River).
High Himalayan passes of Mangsha Dhura (5,490 m) and Limpiya Dhura (5,530 m) are situated along the northern border of the Kuthi valley joining it with Tibet.
Shin La pass and Nama pass join Darma Valley to Kuthi valley from the south. Jolingkong and Parvati are main alpine lakes.
Sangthang Peak is the highest along the line of peaks forming the northern boundary of the valley with Tibet. Among the peaks forming the southern boundary of the valley, notable peaks are Brammah Parvat (6,321 m), Cheepaydang (6,220 m) and Adi Kailash (5,945 m).