Drainage

Chapter-7
Very short answer type questions:

1. What is a drainage basin?

Ans. The area of a land from which a river collects water is called drainage system.

2. Where do the following river originate?

a. Kavery: Kavery originates from Brahmagir range.

b. Brahmaputra: Brahmaputra originates from Chemayungdang.
c. Mahanadi: Mahanadi originates from Chhattisgarh.
d. Tapi: Tapi originates from Betul, Maharashtra.

3. What is a watershed?

Ans. A watershed is an area or ridge of land that separates water flowing to

different rivers, basins or areas.

4. What is a radical pattern of rivers?

Ans. A radical pattern of river has streams flowing in different directions from a
central peak or a dome like structure.

5. What is meant by water divide?

Ans. A divide is the elevated boundary between areas that are drained by
different river systems. Water flowing on one side of a divide empties into one
body of water, whiles water flowing on the other side empties into another.
6. Name the different stages of rivers.

Ans. The different stages of river are:

I. Source of river.
II. Upper course.
III. Middle course.
IV. Oxbow lake.
V. Lower course.
VI. Delta.

7. Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?

Ans. The rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin in the Himalayas.

8. Which two peninsular rivers flow towards west?

Ans. Narmada and Tapi are the two peninsular rivers that flow towards west.

Short answer type questions:

1. Differentiate between Dendritic and Trellis pattern of river.

Ans. A dendritic pattern of river consists of single main stream with tributaries
joining like branches of a tree.

Whereas a trellis pattern is a rectangular pattern formed when a long river is

joined by short flowing stream at right angle.

2. Give three characteristics of Himalayas Rivers.

Ans. The three characteristics of Himalayan Rivers are:

I. They have large basins

II. They are perennial as they receiver water from rainfall and me4ltingice all
the time.
III. They carry out intensive erosional activities upstream and also carry huge
loads of sand and silt.

3. Write a short note on.

a. Kavery Basin: the Kavery has its source in the Brahmagir range of the western
Ghats . It reaches the Bay of Bengal after flowing 800 km. it ends at Kaveripatnam
and its basin is shared by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

b. Mahanadi Basin: Mahanadi river rises in Chhattisgarh and flows towards

Odisha to reach the Bay of Bengal. The 885km long river has its drainage basin
lying in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.

4. What is meant by the term ‘Inland Drainage’?

Ans. The term inland drainage means a drainage system in which rivers do not
flow into the ocean but drains their water into a lake or an inland sea.

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

Ans. Rivers are important or the country’s economy because it have always been
of great use to man. They provided the early man with water to drink fish ass food.
It also provided cheap and easy way to travel. In many places the rivers have been
set to work to provide electric power. Rivers often form the boundaries of
countries. Many river valley civilizations could thrive as the rivers were the lifeline
that sustains them.

Long answers question type.

1. What is the difference between the peninsular rivers and the Himalayan
Rivers?

Ans. The Himalayan Rivers originates from the Himalayas. They are perennial as
they receive water from rain and melting ice.
 Whereas, the Peninsular Rivers originates from Western Ghats and they are
not perennial as they receive water only during the monsoon season.

2. Write notes on:

I. Ganga system: The Ganga originates at the foot of the Himalayan glacier
called gangotri. It has five head stream – Bhagirathi, Alakananda, Mandakini,
Dhauligaanga and Pindar-. The Alakananda and Bhagirathi meet at
Devaprayag to form the Ganga. This river cuts through the southern
Himalayas and comes from the mountain at Rishikesh. It flows into the
Haridwar plains. Its length is 2510km. from most of its course, it is a wide
and sluggish stream and it finally meets Brahmaputra in Bangladesh and
flows into the Bay of Bengal.
II. Brahmaputra system: The source of the Brahmaputra lies in the
Chemayungdung Glacier in the south Western Tibet. It flows in an easterly
direction where it is called the Dihang. Then it enters Assam where it is
called Brahmaputra. After flowing 800 km it turns again and joins the Ganga
in central Bangladesh and finally flows into the Bay of Bengal.

3. Where is inland drainage found in India?

Asns . A drainage system in which rivers do not flow into the ocean, out drains
their water into a lake or an inland sea is called inland drainage. Rajasthan, an arid
and semi arid area in north-western India is where inland drainage occurs the
most. Many salt water lakes are located in the part of the country. Fed by short,
intermittent streams, these salt lakes are benefitted by the flash flood in the
streams which occurs in the rainy seasons. Thus these lakes tend to dry up once
the rainy season is over.