GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 3- DRAINAGE
NOTES OF LESSON (2022-23)

DEFINE

(1) Drainage- It describes the river system of an area.

(2) Drainage basin- The area drained by a single river system.

(3) Watershed/water divide- An elevated area such as a mountain or an upland which separates two

drainage basins.

(4) River system - A river along with its tributaries may be called a river system.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Distinguish between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers

Himalayan Rivers Peninsular Rivers

1. These rivers are perennial, as they are rainfed and
snow-fed.
2. They have longer courses and the nature of the
course is meandering.
3. They form deep valleys and gorges in the
Himalayan Mountain region due to intensive erosion.
4. They carry large volume of water.
1. These rivers are seasonal as they are only rainfed.
2. They have shorter courses and the nature of the
course is linear.
3. They form shallow valleys due to little erosion.
4. They carry comparatively less volume of water.

5. Eg- Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra. 5. Eg- Narmada, Godavari, Krishna.

2. Write a short note on the Indus River system.

(a) Origin- River Indus rises in Tibet near Lake Mansarovar. It flows towards the west and enters India through
the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir.

(b) Tributaries- Several tributaries like the Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok and Hunza join Indus in the Kashmir region.
Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock in Pakistan. The Jhelum,
Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj join together to enter the Indus near Mithankot in Pakistan.

(c) Slope and length- Indus Plain has a gentle slope with a total length of 2900km. Indus is one of the longest
rivers in the world.

(d) Drainage- One third of the Indus River basin, is located in India passing through the states of Jammu and
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab and the rest is in Pakistan.
3. Write a short note on the Ganga River system.

(a) Origin- The headwaters of the Ganga, called the Bhagirathi is fed by the Gangotri glacier and joined by the
Alakananda at Devaprayag in Uttarkhand. At Haridwar, the Ganga emerges from the mountains onto the plains.

(b) Tributaries- The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers
such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghra, the Gandak, and the Kosi. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri
glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right-bank tributary, meets the Ganga at
Allahabad. The Ghaghra, the Gandak, and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya. The main tributaries, which
come from the Peninsular uplands are the Chambal, the Betwa, and the Son.

(c) Drainage- Enlarged with the waters from its right and left bank tributaries, the Ganga flows eastward till
Farakka in West Bengal. This is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta. The river bifurcates here; the
Bhagirathi- Hoogly (a distributary) flows southwards through the deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal. The
mainstream flows southwards into Bangladesh and is joined by the Brahmaputra. Further downstream it is
known as Meghna. This mighty river with water from Ganga and Brahmaputra flows into the Bay of Bengal
forming the largest delta in the world known as the Sunderbans.

(d) Slope and length- The length of the river Ganga is 2500km. Ambala is located on the water divide between
Indus and Ganga River systems. The plains from Ambala to Sunderbans stretch over nearly 1800km, but the fall
in its slope is hardly 300m. In other words, there is a fall of one metre for every 6km.

4. Why does river Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt deposits despite a longer course?

In Tibet, the river carries small volume of water and silt as it passes through a cold and dry area. In India, it
passes through a region of high rainfall. Here the river carries large volume of water and silt.

5. Write a short note on the problems caused by the river Brahmaputra?

OR

Why is the river Brahmaputra known as the river of sorrow?

Every year during the rainy season, the river overflows its bank causing widespread devastation due to floods in
Assam and Bangladesh. Unlike the north Indian rivers, Brahmaputra is marked by huge deposits of silt on its
bed causing the riverbed to rise. The river also shifts its channel frequently.

6. Distinguish between East flowing and West flowing rivers.

East flowing rivers West flowing rivers

1. They originate from the Western Ghats and 1. They originate from central India and flow
flow eastward. westward.

2. They flow into the Bay of Bengal. 2. They flow into the Arabian Sea.

3. They form deltas at their mouth. 3. They form estuaries at their mouths.
 4. They carry large volume of water. 4. They carry small volume of water.

5. Eg- Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri. 5. Eg- Narmada, Tapi.

7. Which is the largest delta? Write a short note on it.

Ganga-Brahmaputra delta (Sundarbans) is the largest delta.

(a) It is a well-watered delta.

(b) It is the fastest growing delta.

(c) Deposition of alluvial soil is high.

(d) It is the most fertile delta.

(e) It is rich in flora and fauna. Eg- Sundari trees and Royal Bengal Tiger.

8. Write a short note on the importance of lakes.

(a) A lake helps to regulate the flow of a river.

(b) During heavy rainfall, it prevents flooding and during the dry season, it helps to maintain an even flow of
water.

(c) Lakes can be used for developing hydel power.

(d) They moderate the climate of the surroundings.

(e) They maintain the aquatic ecosystem.

(f) They enhance natural beauty.

(g) They help develop tourism and provide recreation.

9. What is the role of rivers in an economy?

(1) Water from rivers is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities.

(2) Riverbanks have attracted settlers from ancient times. These settlements have now become big cities.

(3) Using rivers for irrigation, navigation, and hydropower generation is of special significance, particularly in
India, where agriculture is the major source of livelihood for the majority of its population.

10. Write a short note on river pollution.

(a) The growing domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural demand for water from rivers naturally affects
the quality and the quantity of the water. The demand results in, more and more water is being drained out of
the rivers reducing their volume.
(b) A heavy load of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are emptied into the rivers. This affects not only
the quality of water but also the self-cleansing capacity of the river. So, the increasing urbanization and
industrialization do not allow it to happen, and the pollution level of many rivers has been rising.

(c) Concern over rising pollution on our rivers led to the launching of various action plans to clean the rivers.
Eg- Ganga Action Plan.

PENINSULAR RIVERS- EAST FLOWING

Rivers Origin Drains into States through Features

which it flows
1. Godavari
(Dakshin Ganga)
Tributaries- Purna,
Wardha, Manjra, Slopes of the Bay of Madhya Pradesh, Length- 1500km
Pranhita, Penganga, Western Ghats in the Bengal Odisha, Andhra The drainage basin is
Wainganga Nasik district of Pradesh, and the largest among
Maharashtra Maharashtra. peninsular rivers.
Forms a delta.

2. Mahanadi Highlands of Bay of Maharashtra, Length- 860km

Chhattisgarh. Bengal Chhattisgarh, Forms a delta
Jharkhand and
Odisha.
3. Krishna
Tributaries-
Tungabhadra,
Koyana, Ghatprabha, A spring near Bay of Maharashtra, Length- 1400km
Bhima, and Musi Mahabaleshwar Bengal Karnataka, and Forms a delta
Andhra Pradesh
4. Kaveri
Tributaries-
Amravati, Hemavati,
Bhavani and Kabini Brahmagiri range of Bay of Karnataka, Kerala Length- 760 km
Western Ghats. Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Forms a delta.

PENINSULAR RIVERS- WEST FLOWING

Rivers Origin Drains into States through which Features

it flows
1. Narmada Amarkantak hills in Arabian Sea Madhya Pradesh and 1. All the tributaries of
Madhya Pradesh Gujarat. Narmada are very short
and most of them join the
mainstream at right
angles.

2. It forms an estuary.
2. Tapi Satpura range in the Arabian Sea Madhya Pradesh, 1. Devoid of well-
Betul district of Gujarat, Maharashtra. developed tributaries.
Madhya Pradesh
2. It forms an estuary and
drains through a rift
valley.