[6] The Swat's source lies in the Hindu Kush mountains, from where it is fed by glacial waters throughout the year.

From the confluence, the Swat river flows through the narrow gorges of the Kalam Valley until the city of Madyan.

From there, the river courses gently for 160 km (99 mi) through the plain areas of the lower Swat Valley until Chakdara.

Lower reaches of the Swat and Malakand Valley are irrigated by a series of canals regulated by the Amandara Headworks - built by the British in 1903.

The Mohmand Dam, at the lower end of the Swat River's course before it enters into the Peshawar valley, has an installed generation capacity of 740 MW and is under construction.