How do snow and glaciers feed the rivers of the Kunlun Mountains?

The rivers of the Kunlun Mountains are primarily fed by the melting of snow and glaciers, which accounts for the majority of their water supply. Because the region experiences an extremely dry climate, the volume of flow in these rivers is highly seasonal, with 60 to 80 percent of the annual discharge occurring during the summer months.1

During this period, the intensive thawing of snow and ice coincides with the season's maximum precipitation, significantly increasing river volume. While these rivers provide essential irrigation water for oases along the northern rim of the mountain system, the high rate of evaporation of this meltwater has contributed to the development of extensive salt pans in the region. Although the mountains reach great elevations, glaciation is limited due to the extreme aridity, and the glaciers themselves are characterized by their steepness and a relative scarcity of meltwater.1