{{Short description|River in Punjab, Pakistan}} {{distinguish|Soon Valley}}{{Infobox river | name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- MAPS --> | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = {{flag |Pakistan}} | subdivision_type2 = Province | subdivision_name2 = Punjab | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = Makhad | discharge1_min = {{cvt|38|m3/s|cuft/s}} | discharge1_avg = {{cvt|109|m3/s|cuft/s}} | discharge1_max = {{cvt|228|m3/s|cuft/s}} | source1 = Murree Hills | source1_location = | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = | mouth = Indus River | mouth_location = Makhad | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = | progression = {{RIndus}} | river_system = | basin_size = {{cvt|6842|km2|sqmi}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} '''Soan River''',{{Efn|{{Langx|pnj|{{nq|سواں دریا}}|Sōān Daryā|label=Punjabi}}}} also '''Sawan''' and '''Sohan''', is a {{convert|250|km}} long river in Punjab, Pakistan. It originates from the Murree Hills and drains into the Indus River near Makhad. A seasonal river, it is almost entirety fed by rainwater during monsoon.<ref name="Wild2">{{Cite book |last1=Abbasi |first1=Arshad Mehmood |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtfVBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |title=Wild Edible Vegetables of Lesser Himalayas: Ethnobotanical and Nutraceutical Aspects, Volume 1 |last2=Shah |first2=Munir Hussain |last3=Khan |first3=Mir Ajab |date=2014 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-09543-1 |page=13 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=A. Ashfaq 1; M. Ashraf; A. Bahzad |date=2014 |title=Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Groundwater Behaviour in the Soan Basin of Pakistan |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360515136_Spatial_and_Temporal_Assessment_of_Groundwater_Behaviour_in_the_Soan_Basin_of_Pakistan |journal=Technical Journal |publisher=University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila |volume=19 |issue=I}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Laraib |first=Muhammad |last2=Iqbal |first2=Mudassar |last3=Waseem |first3=Muhammad |last4=Arshed |first4=Abu Bakar |last5=Sultan |first5=Umar |last6=Khan |first6=Hayat Ullah |last7=Rahman |first7=Awais |last8=Abbas |first8=Khawar |last9=Shah |first9=Muhammad Ayub |last10=Javaid |first10=Samra |last11=Tariq |first11=Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman |date=June 2024 |title=Natural streamflow reconstruction and quantification of hydrological drought in the Soan River basin, Pakistan |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1752-1688.13193 |journal=Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) |language=en |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=741–754 |doi=10.1111/1752-1688.13193 |issn=1093-474X}}</ref>
== Course == [[Image:Swaan gorge or Swaan cut.JPG|thumb|right|250px|One of the many gorges of the Soan River]]The Soan River drains much of the water of the Pothohar Plateau. It originates in the foothills of Patriata in Murree and supplies water to the Simly Dam, a reservoir for Islamabad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Design & Construction of Simly Dam|url=http://pecongress.org.pk/images/upload/books/Paper452.pdf|publisher=WAPDA|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> Near Pharwala Fort, Ling Nullah, following a relatively long course through Lehtrar and Kahuta, joins the Soan near Sihala on the southern side of village Gagri. The Islamabad Expressway crosses this stream near Sihala at the Kak Pul bridge. Two other streams, the Korang Nullah and the Lai Nullah, join the Soan just before and after the Soan Bridge, respectively. The Rawal Dam has been built on Korang Nullah. After following a path along a big curve, the stream reaches the proposed Kalabagh dam site close to Pir Piai where it falls into the Indus River.<ref name="Wild2" />[[Image:Swaan River.JPG|thumb|250px|right|The Soan River cutting through Pothohar]]The marine life of the river is currently endangered due to the discharge of chemicals of the Sihala Industrial State and effluent water of Rawalpindi city into it.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=20 February 2024 |title=Industries face action for toxic wastes |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456984/industries-face-action-for-toxic-wastes |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
== Hydrology == The catchment area of Soan River is {{cvt|6,842|km2|sqmi}} while its mean annual discharge at Makhad during the period 1960{{En dash}}2005 was {{cvt|109|m3/s|cuft/s}}, with a minimum and maximum discharge of {{cvt|38|m3/s|cuft/s}} and {{cvt|228|m3/s|cuft/s}}, respectively. However, a decreasing trend is observed in the mean annual discharge, owing to reduced rate of rainfall and construction of reservoirs in its catchment area.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
== History == Oldest evidence of human activity in Pakistan has been found in the Soan River Valley. The human activity in the Soan Valley is believed to have originated during the Stone Age. Here some of the earliest signs of pre-modern humans, known as Soanians, have been discovered during the excavations of prehistoric mounds.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=31 March 2012 |title=Soan River — witness to rise and fall of many civilisations |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/707009 |access-date=25 November 2018 |work=Dawn |language=en-US}}</ref> Some relics found in the Soan Valley during the excavation process are believed to have originated over 500,000 years ago, during the Stone Age.<ref name=":1" />
==See also== * Soan Dam
==References== {{Notelist}}{{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/amertaj/2268082767/in/set-72157608316537455/ Photo of fossils found in Soan valley]
{{PunjabGeography}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|33|01|19|N|71|43|19|E|display=title|region:PK_type:river}}
Category:Rivers of Punjab, Pakistan Category:Rigvedic rivers Category:Rivers of Pakistan