DRAINAGE
Q1. What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
A1. Water divide is an elevated area, such as a mountain or an upland, that
separates two drainage basins. For example, the water divide between the Indus
and the Ganga river system is Ambala.
Q2. Which is the largest river basin in India?
A2. The Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India with the length of over 2500
km.
Q3. Where do rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
The river Indus has its origin in Tibet, near Mansarowar lake.
The river Ganga originates at the Gangotri glacier on the southern slopes of
the Himalayas.
Q4. Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the
Ganga?
The two headstreams of the Ganga are the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda.
They meet at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand.
Q5. Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer
course?
A5. The Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part carries a smaller volume of water and less
silt as it is a cold and dry area.
Q6. Which two Peninsular rivers flow through trough?
A6. Narmada and Tapi are the two Peninsular rivers that flow through a trough.
Q7. State some economic benefits of rivers and lakes.
A7. Economic benefits of rivers:
Rivers provide water which is a basic natural resource for various human
activities.
They are used for irrigation, navigation and generation of hydro-power.
They have a moderating influence on the climate of the surroundings and
maintain the aquatic ecosystem.
Economic benefits of lakes:
Lakes help to regulate the flow of a river.
They prevent flooding during rainy season.
They also have moderating influence on the surrounding climatic conditions
and maintain the aquatic ecosystem.
They enhance the natural beauty and recreational activities by encouraging
tourism.
They are also used for generation of hydroelectricity.
Q8. Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular
rivers.
A8. The Himalayan rivers:
They are perennial rivers. They get water from both the melted snow and of
heavy rainfall.
They perform an immense erosional activity in the upper course.
They have long courses from their source to the mouth.
They carry large amount of silt and sand, which is renewed every year by
annual floods. Therefore, they are good for agriculture.
The Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra are the major Himalayan rivers.
The Peninsular rivers:
They are seasonal in nature. They depend on rainfall only.
They do not perform any erosional activity in the upper course.
They have shorter and shallower course.
These rivers do not carry much silt, there are no major plains. Fertile lands
are only found in the small delta areas.
The Narmada, the Tapi, the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Krishna and the
Kaveri are the major Peninsular rivers.
Q9. Compare the east flowing and the west flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau.
A9. The east flowing rivers:
The Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are east flowing
rivers of the Peninsular plateau.
They originate from the Western Ghats and flow eastwards.
They form deltas at their mouths.
They have a developed and large tributary system.
They drain into the Bay of Bengal.
The west flowing rivers:
The Narmada and the Tapi are the major west flowing rivers of the Peninsular
plateau.
They originate in the Central Highlands and flow westwards.
They form estuaries at their mouths.
They are devoid of any developed tributary system.
They drain into the Arabian Sea.
Q10. Map Skills:
Mark the following on India political map.
a) Himalayan rivers
Indus
Satluj
Ganga
Brahmaputra
b) Peninsular rivers
Narmada
Tapi
Mahanadi
Godavari
Krishna
Kaveri
c) Lakes
Wular
Sambar
Chilika
Kolleru
Pulicat