Small rivers fed by glacial melt-waters combine to form the Dras River. The terrain resembles a typical glaciated topography. It consists of amphitheaters, hanging valleys, morainal deposits, and cirques. In its lower reaches the river slows down considerably.

The entire catchment area is devoid of a vegetative cover as it lies in the rain-shadow of the main Himalayan range. Scanty vegetative growth is present in a narrow strip along channels formed by snow-melt waters. The discharge of the Dras River rises drastically in late summer when it receives a large quantity of water from the melting snow.

Shiugo River
The Shiugo is a small tributary of the Shigar (South) river system. It rises from the northeastern slopes of the main Himalayan range near the Burzil Pass. Permanent deposits of snow feed this river. Thereafter the Shiugo River flows towards east and merges with the Dras River upstream of Kargil.

Glacial action has shaped the present topography of the Shiugo catchment area. A snow-fed tributary from the southern slopes of the Deosai mountains meets the main river a short distance upstream of where it merges with the Dras.

Vegetation is confined to alpine meadows on moraines and along channels of snow-melt waters. Human habitation is very sparse in the Shiugo Valley.

Suru River
The Suru River is a small tributary of the Shigar (South) River. It rises from the snowy wastes on the northern slopes of the main Himalayan range and merges with the Shigar (South) River after a short distance. Small snow-fed channels empty themselves into the Suru River at various places along its course.

The entire catchment of this river has been carved by the action of glaciers both ancient and present. In winter, snow covers a large part of the Suru Valley and lies on the ground till mid-May. The river channel sometimes freezes in severe winters.

The valley bottom is strewn with boulders and moraines brought down by glaciers. Small hanging valleys open into the main valley. There is virtually no vegetative growth in the Suru catchment.