RIVER SYSTEMS OF INDIA - UPSC Civil Services

RIVER SYSTEMS OF INDIA

Drainage basin: The area drained by a single river system i.e. main river and its tributaries.

Water divide: Elevated area or an upland that separates two drainage basin.

Water divide

Drainage patterns Dendritic: forms when river follows the slope of the land ,river and its

tributaries resembles the branches of the tree.

Trellis: it develops over alternate band of hard and soft rocks (ridge and valley topography) tributaries join main river at approx. right angle.

Rectangular : formed over hard and strongly jointed rocky terrain tributaries join main river at right angle.

Radial: It develops when streams flow in different directions from a central peak or dome like structure.

River cycle and fluvial landforms

Features formed in youthful stage: V shaped valleys, waterfall alluvial fans

Features formed in mature stage:meanders , ox bow lake , flood plains, levees

Features formed in old stage: Delta , distributaries

Young stage Mature stage Old stage

Himalayan and peninsular rivers Himalayan rivers1.Perennial in nature2.Source of origin -Glaciers3.Have long courses and

perform intense erosion.4.Mainly of dendritic pattern and forms well developed

deltas.5.Comparatively younger in

origin.

Peninsular rivers1. Non perennial in nature2. Source of origin -

Monsoons.3. Have shallower and shorter

courses.

4. Combination of dendritic, trellis and rectangular pattern .

5. Show graded profile.

S.No Name of the river Origin & drain into

Tributaries Details

1. Indus •Near lake Mansarowar in Tibet•Arabian sea

Zaskas, Nubra , Shyok, Hunza in Kashmir region;Satluj ,Beas, Ravi,Chenab and Jhelum near Mithankot

•Emerges from mountain at Attock.•Gentle slope•Total length 2880km (In India-1,114 km)

2. Ganga •GangotriGlacier in Uttrakhand•Bay of Bengal

From Himalayan side-Yamuna,Ghaghara, Gandhak,KosiFrom peninsula side-Chambal,Betwa,Son

•Forms the largest delta of the world along river Brahmaputra-Sunderban

3. Brahmaputra •East of lakeMansarowar in Tibet•Bay of Bengal

Dibang, Dihang and Lohit

Takes U turn at Namcha Barwato enterIndia. In India –916 kms

Ganga River System

Headwaters of River Ganga – Bhagirathi(origin Gangotri) and Alaknanda join at Devaprayag to form Ganga.

At Haridwar , it emerges from mountains and enters plains.

Divide into Bhagirathi and Hoogly.

Mainstream flows southward joined by Brahmaputra and known as Meghna. Forms Sunderban delta named after sundari tree.

Total length 2,525 km

Ambala forms water divide between Indus and Ganga

Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda

Bramhaputra river system Also known as Tsang Po in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Takes a hair-pin bend after crossing Namcha Barwa peak and enters India.

Carries less silt in Tibet region and large amount of silt in Indian part

Many problems are associated with it –floods, sedimentation of river bed and frequent shifting of its channel.

Forms world’s largest riverine island- Majuli island in the state of Assam.

River Distributaries

◼ The rivers in their lower course, due to the gentle slope, low velocity and huge deposition of silt, split into numerous channels known as distributariesand results in the formation of riverine island.

Riverine Island

Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River is the largest inhabited

riverine island in the world.

The Peninsular rivers

Peninsular RiverRiver Origin and drain

intoTributaries Remark

Narmada •Amarkantak hills in M.P•Into Arabian sea

Hiran, Kolar ,Tawa •Forms Dhuan Dharwaterfall in Jabalpur (Marble Rock)•Forms estuary

Tapi •Multai in Betuldistt of M.P•Into Arabian sea

Purna, Betul, Amravati Called twin of River NarmadaForms estuary

Mahanadi • Dhandkaranyain Chhattisgarh•Drains into Bay of Bengal

Ib, Sheonath,Tel •Hirakud Dam is built on this river• It is the most important river of Odisha.

Peninsular River

River Origin and draininto

Tributaries Remark

Godavari •Nasik district inMaharashtra•Drain into Bay of Bengal

Penganga,Wainganga, Indravati

•Longest river of peninsular India•Also called Dakshin Ganga•Forms Dendritic pattern

Krishna •Rises from The western ghats near Mahabaleshwar•Drain into Bay of Bengal

Koyna, Bhima,Ghataprabha, Tungabhadra,Musi

•Second largest river of peninsula•Famous city of Hyderabad is located on the banks of River Musi, one of the main tributaries.

Cauvery (Kaveri)

•Rise in Brahmagrirange of Western Ghats, Karnataka•Drain into Bay of Bengal

Amaravati and Shiva •Main river for southern -most states•Forms Delta

Cauvery River course

Other West flowing Rivers

West flowing Rivers

Lakes of India Classification on the basis of the origin:

Natural lakes-Glacial lakes (Dal lake), Lagoons(Pulicatlake), lakes formed due to inland drainage(Sambharlake)

Man made lakes-Nagarjuna Sagar, Nizam Sagar, Gobind sagar

Importance of the lakes: Have moderating effect on nearby area, unique aquatic life, source of water for irrigation and other uses, eco tourism.