River Landforms for Prelims Part 1

Rushikesh Dudhat
Some important points
• General lowering of earths surface is known as Denudation
• Denudation involves both weathering and erosion.
• Rocks are first weakened by weathering, these weathered rock materials are
then transported by agents of erosion such as Wind, River, Glaciers etc
• Running water is single most important agent of denudation.
When tributaries join the main river obliquely the drainage pattern so evolved
will be tree like or dendritic. It develops in region of:
• flat terrain
• uniform topography
• same type of rocks having equal resistance.
WHERE? --→ -> GREAT PLAINS OF INDIA.
If the tributaries join main river at right angles it is known
as TRELLISED DRAINAGE PATTERN.

WHERE -→ In regions of ANTICLINE ( Mountains) and

SYNCLINE ( Valley)

If a rivers originate from central high point and radiate in

different directions it is known as RADIAL DRAINAGE
PATTERN.

Where --→ In regions of a mountain , dome or Plateau

E.G. AMARKANTAK PLATEAU
Amarkantak plateau is the
source of origin of NARMADA
and SON river.

It is an BIOSPHERE RESERVE
located in MAIKAL HILLS of
SATPURA Ranges.

Mark this part in your atlas.

• Rivers carry minerals in solution(dissolved), materials in suspension (sand,
silt, clay etc) and as Traction Load. Traction load means pebbles, stones, big
rocks which roll along the river bed.

• Due to this the height of landform is lowered and we divide the landforms in 3
stages:
1. Upper Course or Youthful Stage
2. Middle Course or Mature Stage
3. Lower Course or Old Stage.

• Different stages gives rise to various landforms and questions are asked
regarding landforms in Prelims examination.
• *** Try to relate these landforms with Indian Geography.
• Which one of the following rivers
originates from Amarkantak? The Narmada river flows to the west, while
most other large peninsular rivers flow to
the east. Why?(2013)
1. Narmada 1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. Son 2. It flows between the Vindhya and the
3. Damodar Satpura's.
4. Tapti 3. The land slopes to the west from Central
India.
Choose the correct option from the Select the correct answer using the codes
following codes: given below.
(a) 1 only
[A] Only 1 & 2 (b) 2 and 3
[B] Only 1, 2 & 4 (c) 1 and 3
[C] Only 2 & 4 (d) None
[D] Only 1
Mechanism of River Erosion
• Corrasion or Abrasion: Mechanical grinding of River’s material against the bank of
river. The rocks will erode the sides/bottom of the river.
1. Lateral Corrasion/erosion : widens the valley. Happens in middle and old age.
2. Vertical Corrasion/ erosion : downward erosion which deepens the valley to
form V –Shaped valley.
• Corrosion or Solution : Solvent action of water.
• Hydraulic Action : loosening or sweeping away of materials by river water. It
breaks loose rocks, picks up loose fragments and transports them.
• Attrition : materials in water rub against each when they roll against each other.
Large/ coarse rocks collide and are broken into smaller fragments.
 Stages in river:

YOUTHFUL STAGE: Lower Stage:

Occurs in mountainous stage.
River is swift.
Hence its erosion and
transportation capacity is high.
Vertical Erosion dominates.
The speed of river
Middle Stage: further decreases as
river slows down. river enter flat plain.
Their volume increases. Lateral erosion
Transportation of dominates.
materials dominate The work of river is
deposition.
Landforms in Youthful
stage:

• Remember due to steep slope the speed of river is more and

therefore erosion dominates. Major landforms are:
1. V SHAPED VALLEYS : Gorges & Canyons. Narrow, deep V shaped
valleys are known as Gorges. Are common in mountains. Eg.
Himalayas.
SHIPKI LA in HIMACHAL PRADESH.
In desert regions , deep valleys are known as CANYONS.
Eg, GRAND CANYON , USA, RIVER COLORADO.
 2. RAPIDS , CATARACTS & WATERFALLS :
Rapids are smaller while Cataracts are bigger
3. Plunge Pool : Depression formed at the base of
waterfall are known as Plunge Pool.
4. River Piracy or River Capture : Swift, big stream
captures small stream. Remember the terms
associated with river Piracy.
• Elbow of Capture : The bend at which capture
occurs
• Wind Gap : The valley below the elbow of capture
• Misfit : Beheaded stream
Landforms of Mature
Stage:
• Leteral Erosion replaces Vertical Erosion. The valley
widens
• Interlocked Spurs:- the hills look interlocked.
• Meanders: bending of river forming loops is
Known as meandering.
• Alluvial Fan: As speed reduces, river deposits
sediments at foot of mountain formig fan like
feature.
Link with Indian Geography:
1. BHABHAR : Big boulders, unsorted sediments
along the foothills of Shiwalik.
2. TERAI : Parallel to Bhabhar, marshy land ,
densely forested, is important for agriculture and
wildlife.
Landforms of Older stage
• Land becomes flat. SO TELL ME, river speed will Increase or Decrease?
• DECREASE and therefore major work of river is DEPOSITION.

1. FLOOD PLAIN: vast depositional feature deposited during floods.

In INDIA Flood plains are known as :
❖ BANGAR : Old flood plains, Dark in colour.
❖ KHADAR : New flood plains, deposited by rivers during annual floods.
WHICH IS MORE FERTILE? -------------------------------- KHADAR.

2. NATURAL LEVEES : The bed of river is raised from sides forming natural levees.
To minimise threat of floods ARTIFICIAL EMBANKMENTS are on Levees.
3. OX-BOW LAKES : as meandering of rivers increases , Loops intersect
forming a horse shoe shaped lake.
EG: 1. DAL LAKE & Wular lake
2. KANWAR LAKE , ------ Asia’s LARGEST FRESHWATER OXBOW LAKE
formed due to meandering of GANDAK river in Past.
 4. DELTA : Depositional feature located at mouth of river when river reaches Sea
is known as Delta. It is made up of very fine sediments. The main river may
branch out in several channels known as
Types of Delta :
• ARCUATE or FAN Shaped Delta :- Formed when river water is as dense as sea
water.
• It is most common type of delta.
eg : Ganga Brahmaputra Delta, Nile Delta, Mekong Delta

• BIRD FOOT DELTA : e.g. MISSISSIPPI River.

• ESTUARY : When mouth of river is submerged below Sea water or when Delta
is submerged below sea water it is known as Estuary. River water is lighter than
sea water.
e.g. Amazon, Vistula , Narmada & Tapi.
Senai
Peninsula ,
Egypt
.

RED SEA
• Q. Consider following statements with reference to Indian drainage:
1. Himalayan Rivers form Big Deltas.
2. West flowing river form estuaries.
3. Western coast is an example of SUBMERGED coast.
Identify correct statements.

CORRECT ANSWER :
 Q. Which of the following is/are
distributaries of Ganga?
1. Padma
2. Damodar
3. Jamuna
4. Hoogly
Choose correct answer from
below.
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1 and 4 only
c. 1, 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 4 only