CLASS 9

GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER - DRAINAGE
NOTES

Estuaries : They are coastal water bodies where freshwater from rivers and
streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Peninsular Rivers:

River Origin States Drains Speciality / Remarks Length

1. It flows towards the

west in a rift valley formed
due to faulting.
Amarkantak It passes 2. It creates a picturesque
Hills in Madhya through Arabia location - The 'marble
Pradesh Madhya n sea rocks' near Jabalpur 1312 Km
Narmada
Pradesh & where narmada flows
Basin
Gujarat through a deep gorge and
the 'Dhuadhar falls are
(some of the beautiful
locations).
3. All the tributaries of
Narmada are very short.

Satpura Ranges It covers 1. It flows in the rift Valley

in Betul District parts of Arabia Parallel to Narmada but it
Tapi Madhya Madhya n Sea is shorter. 724 Km
Basin Pradesh Pradesh, 2. The main west flowing
Gujarat & rivers are Sabarmati,
Maharashtra Mahi, Bharathpuzha and
Periyar.

1. It is also the largest

among the peninsular
It rises from 50% part of rivers.
Godawari Nasik District of Maharashtra, 2. It is joined by
Basin Maharashtra Madhya Bay of tributaries such as the 1500 Km
from slopes of Pradesh, Bengal Purna, Wardha Pranhita,
western ghats. Odisha & Manjra, Wainganga and
Andhra the Penganga. (Manjra,
Pradesh. Wainganga and
Penganga are very large.)
3. It is also known as
'Dakshin Ganga'.
 Mahanadi It rises in the Maharashtra, Bay of
Basin highlands of Chhattisgarh, Bengal It flows through Odisha to 860 km
Chattishgarh. Jharkhand & reach Bay of Bengal
Odisha.

Krishna Rising from Maharashtra, The Tungabhadra,

Bay of
Basin spring near Karnataka & Koyana, Ghatprabha, 1400 km
Bengal
Mahabaleshwar Andhra Musi and Bhima are its
Pradesh Tributories

It rises from
Brahmagiri
range of the Karnataka, The Amravati, Bhavani,
Bay of
Kaveri western ghats Kerala & Hemavati and Kabini are 760 km
Bengal
Basin and reaches the Tamil Nadu main tributaries.
Bay of Bengal
in south of
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu

(Important) -
1. The Kaveri River forms the second biggest waterfall in India.
2. The waterfall is known as Shivasamudram Falls.
3. Hydroelectric power is generated from Shivasamudram Falls.
4. This electricity is supplied to Mysuru, Bengaluru & Kolar Gold Field (KGF)

- Kunchikal Waterfalls is the biggest waterfall in India.

- Other Peninsular Rivers:
There are some smaller rivers flowing towards the east - The
Damodar(Jharkhand), the Brahmani(Odisha), the Baitarni(Odisha) and
Subarnrekha( Jharkhand).

(Important)-
- 71 per cent of the world’s surface is covered with water, but 97 per cent of
that is salt water.
- Of the 3 per cent that is available as freshwater, three quarters of it is
trapped as ice.

Differentiate between East flowing rivers and West flowing rivers:

Lakes
1. Dal Lake in Kashmir is famous for houseboats and shikaras. It attracts
many tourists.
2. Very large lakes like the Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, and Aral Sea are called
inland seas.
3. Permanent lakes have water all year. Some lakes are seasonal, found in
semi-arid areas, and fill up only during the rainy season.
4. Lakes are formed by different natural forces like:
○ Glaciers
○ Wind
○ Rivers
○ Human activities
5. A meandering river can create ox-bow lakes when parts of the river get cut
off.
6. Lagoons are lakes formed along the coast by spits and bars (e.g. Chilika,
Pulicat, Kolleru lakes).
7. Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is a seasonal saltwater lake, used to make
salt.
8. Most freshwater lakes are found in the Himalayas, formed by melting
glaciers.
9. Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) is formed by tectonic activity and is the
largest freshwater lake in India.
10. Other important freshwater lakes are:
 ○ Dal Lake
○ Bhimtal
○ Nainital
○ Loktak
○ Barapani
11. Guru Gobind Sagar Lake (from Bhakra Nangal Dam) is a man-made
lake formed by damming a river for hydropower.

- Importance of Lakes (Flow chart)

1. Lakes are of great value to human beings.

2. A lake helps to regulate the flow of the water river.
3. It prevents flooding.
4. Lakes can be used for developing hydel power.
5. It maintains the aquatic ecosystems, and enhances natural beauty.
6. It helps develop tourism and provide recreation.

Q. Why are rivers important for the country’s economy?

Ans. Rivers are important for the country’s economy for the following
reasons:
1. Natural Highways of Prosperity
Rivers provide cheap transport and support trade.
2. Eco-Friendly Power Houses
They generate hydroelectricity, a clean energy source.
3. Guardians of Traditional Livelihood
Farmers and fishermen depend on rivers for irrigation and fishing.
4. Tourism that Flows with Culture
Rivers attract pilgrims and tourists, boosting local economy.
5. Nature’s Investment in Future Resilience
They recharge groundwater, enrich soil, and support agriculture.

Q. Write a short NRCP.

Ans. The river cleaning programme in the country was initiated with the
launching of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985. The Ganga Action Plan
was expanded to cover other rivers under the National River Conservation
Plan (NRCP) in 1995. The objective of the NRCP is to improve the water
quality of the rivers, which are major water sources in the country, through
the implementation of pollution abatement work

River Pollution
1. Overuse of River Water: Excessive use for homes, farms, and factories
reduces river flow.
2. Untreated Waste Dumping: Sewage and factory waste are released
directly into rivers.
3. Water Quality Drops: Pollutants reduce the purity and cleanliness of river
water.
4. Loss of Self-Cleansing Ability: Rivers like the Ganga can no longer clean
themselves naturally near cities.
5. Health Hazards: Polluted rivers cause diseases like cholera and typhoid.
6. Impact on Daily Life: Lack of clean water affects drinking, farming, and
hygiene.
7. Government Actions: Plans like Ganga Action Plan and NRCP aim to
reduce pollution.