As　a　response　to　rapid　tectonic　uplift　and　intense　river　incision,　giant　river-damming　landslides　have　frequently　occurred　in　the　mountain　and　canyon　region　of　the　southeastern　Tibetan　Plateau.　These　landslides　in　turn　can　transiently　affect　the　longitudinal　profile　evolution　of　rivers.　The　ca.　440　Mm(3)　channelized　Linka　rock　avalanche　initiated　as　a　giant　translational　rockslide　on　the　south-facing　dip　slope　of　the　NW-trending　divide　of　the　Waqu　catchment.　The　detached　rock　mass　involved　the　thick　and　resistant　Wada　limestone,　and　the　underlying　Basu　red-bed　unit,　comprising　sandstone,　conglomerate,　and　siltstone.　The　NWW-striking　bedding　planes　and　the　SE-dipping　joint　set　bounded　the　landslide　source　area　at　its　base　and　sides,　respectively,　and　a　buckling　failure　controlled　by　the　high-angle　SW-dipping　joints　at　the　slope　toe　induced　this　giant　mass-movement　event.　The　rock　slope　failure　was　likely　triggered　by　an　earthquake　that　occurred　at　ca.　5.5　ka　before　present,　probably　corresponding　to　a　prehistorical　rupture　on　the　active　Bianba-Luolong　Fault　Zone.　The　confined　rock　avalanche　deposits,　covering　ca.　5.5　km(2),　rode　up　both　of　the　constraining　ridges　that　laterally　constrained　the　motion　path.　The　instantaneous　velocity　as　the　rock　avalanche　traveled　through　the　distal　bend　of　the　motion　path　was　calculated　to　be　ca.　34　m/s　using　a　superelevation-based　equation.　The　rock　avalanche　traveled　a　horizontal　distance　of　ca.　5970　m　with　a　vertical　drop　of　1380　m,　displaying　a　high　mobility　(H/L　index　value　of　0.231),　which　can　be　attributed　primarily　to　dynamic　rock　fragmentation.　This　giant　mass-movement　event　completely　blocked　the　Waqu　River　with　a　ca.　170-m　high　dam.　This　natural　dam　has　experienced　breaches　at　least　6　times　(including　1　seepage　failure　and　5　subsequent　overtopping　failures),　and　the　largest　peak　discharge　from　the　1st　seepage　failure　was　estimated　to　be　similar　to　19,500　m(3)/s.　The　formation　and　breaching　of　the　natural　dam　have　caused　a　transient　but　extremely　profound　influence　on　the　longitudinal　profile　evolution　of　the　Waqu　River.　This　research　involving　landslide　initiation,　displacement,　deposition,　and　the　formation　and　breaching　of　the　landslide　dam　can　help　enhance　the　understanding　of　effective　risk　assessments　of　landslide-induced　disaster　chains　in　high-relief　regions.