DRAINAGE

River Source States covered Flows toward

Ganga Gangotri UP, West Bengal Bay of Bengal
Brahamaputra Tibet east of Mansarowar Arunachal Pradesh, Bay of Bengal
Assam
Indus Tibet, near Mansarowar J &K, Punjab Arabian Sea

Narmada Amarkantak hills, MP MP and Gujrat Arabian sea

Tapi Satpura range, MP MP, Gujrat and Mh Arabian sea
Godavari Nashik, Mh Mh, MP, Odisha and Bay of Bengal
Andhra Pradesh
Mahanadi Chhattisgarh CH, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bay of Bengal
MH
Krishna Near Mahabaleshwar Mh, Karnataka and Bay of Bengal
Andhra Pradesh
Kaveri Brahma Giri range Karnataka, Kerala and Bay of Bengal
Tamil Nadu

1. Explain
• Meanders: A meander is when water flows in a curvy, bendy path, like a snake.

• Ox-bow lakes: An oxbow lake is a lake that forms when a meander in a river is cut off from the rest of
the river.

• River system: A river along with its tributaries may be called a river system.

2. What is the significance of the term “water divide?” Give an example.

• A mountain or an upland separates two drainage basins in an elevated area. Such an upland is known
as a water divide.
• For example, Ambala is located on the water divide between the Indus and the Ganga River.

3. Explain the term ‘Drainage’ and ‘Drainage basin’.

• Drainage: It describes the river system of an area.
• Drainage basin: The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.
4. Write a note on the Drainage Systems in India.

There are majorly two river systems which are Himalayan rivers and Peninsular rivers.

• Himalayan river system: These rivers are perennial rivers. The three river systems of the Himalayas
are:
1. Indus River System: Indus originated from Tibet near lake mansarowar. It flows into
Pakistan through India.

2. Ganga River System: The river Ganga originates from the Gangotri glacier. Yamuna,
originating at Yamunotri, is a major tributary of the Ganga.

3. Brahmaputra River System: It originates in the Himalayas and flows as TsangPo in the
eastern direction in Tibet. When it enters India, it is called Dihang and its eastward flow
thereafter is called Brahmaputra.

• Peninsular river system: The Peninsular Rivers are in the southern peninsular rivers. These rivers are
rain-fed rivers. Therefore, these rivers are seasonal rivers. The rivers can be divided into:

1. East flowing rivers: Many rivers flow in the eastern side of the Peninsula due to the slant.
These rivers are generally big compared to the west-flowing rivers. The eastern rivers make
a delta when they reach the Bay of Bengal. E.g., Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.

2. West flowing rivers: The main west flowing rivers are Narmada and Tapi. The other
important rivers are Luni, Mahi, Sabarmati.

5. Write a note of the Indus River System.

• Indus originated from Tibet near lake mansarowar.
• It enters India in Ladakh district and covers Punjab, J & K and Himachal Pradesh.
• Its Tributaries are Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej.
• It enters Pakistan in Baltistan tributaries join in Mithankot and flows towards south to drain in
Arabian sea.
• Due to the depositional work of Sutlej, it forms the Punjab Plains.

6. Write a note of the Brahmaputra River System.

• The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarowar lake.
• It flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas.
• On reaching the Namcha Barwa, it takes a ‘U’ turn and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh.
• In rainy season it causes widespread devastation due to flood in Assam and Bangladesh.
• It forms largest number of fresh water riverine islands in the world.
• Eg: Majuli

7. Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer course?
• Tibetan part is a cold and a dry area.
• So, it carries a smaller volume of water and less silt.
• In India, it passes through a region of high rainfall.
• Here the river carries a large volume of water and silt.
8. Write a note of the Ganga River System.
• It originates from the glacier Gangotri.
• It is joined by many tributaries Yamuna, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi.
• ‘Bhagirathi’ is joined by the Alaknanda at Deva Prayag.
• It flows eastwards till Farakka in West Bengal. This is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta.
• In Farakka it divides and mainstream flows into Bangladesh and the others drains into bay of Bengal.
• It forms world’s largest delta known as Sundarbans delta.

9. Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
• The first headstream of ganga is Bhagirathi.
• It emerges from Gangotri glacier.
• The second headstream of ganga is Alaknanda
• ‘Bhagirathi’ is joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag.

10. Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.
OR

Give any three features of the Himalayan Rivers.

Himalayan River Peninsular River

They originate at high elevations from Himalayas They rise at much lower heights in the Western
Ghats
They receive water from glacier and rainfall They are seasonal-dependent on monsoon.

They are perennial They are seasonal

It has large River basin It has short River basin
It has large catchment area It has narrow catchment area
Ex. Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra Ex. Godavari, Krishna and Narmada

11. Explain the perennial and non-perennial rivers. Why do the Himalayan Regions consist of perennial rivers?
State reasons.
• The rivers that flow throughout the year are termed as perennial rivers. e.g., the Ganga
• The rivers that do not flow throughout the year are termed as non-perennial rivers. They are
seasonal rivers that flow mainly during the rainy season. e.g., the Subarnarekha
• The rivers of the Himalayan region are perennial in nature. They receive water from glacier and
rainfall and it remain throughout the year.
• During monsoons the Himalayas receive water from rainfall and During dry periods the rivers get
water from melting snow and glaciers.

12. What are the factors on which the drainage patterns depend?
• The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the geological time period, nature and
structure of rocks, topography, slope.
• It also depends on amount of water, flowing and the periodicity of the flow.
13. Compare the west flowing and the east flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau.

West flowing River East flowing River

They drain into Arabian sea. They drain into Bay of Bengal
They form estuaries. They form deltas.
They are shorter than east flowing river They are longer than West flowing river
Very few rivers flow to west Most of the river flows to east
Ex. Narmada and Tapi Ex. Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi and Godavari

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

OR
State some economic benefits of lakes and rivers.

• River is very beneficial for agricultural purpose and generating hydro-electricity.

• It provides fisheries, inland channels for transport.
• Lakes like the Sambhar Lake provide edible salt.
• They also help develop tourism and provide recreation.

15. Give the name of the river also known as the “Dakshin Ganga?”
16. Name the biggest waterfall in India.
17. Which is the largest river basin in India?
18. Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
19. Zaskar and Nubra are tributaries of _______ river.
20. What is the type of drainage pattern made by the Narmada River?