Drainage of India
India is rich and prosperous in a lot of things, and for the same reason, India is one of the most popular countries today and will continue to be so in the future. A lot of things are unique and perfect in India, and one of them is the prosperous drainage system. India's drainage system is very transparent and solid that informs a lot of things about the drainage process. Numerous small and big rivers flow from all directions and states in India, and some of them also combine at a particular place. This place may also be known as the rivers' merging place, and such connecting sites improvise India's drainage.
Special Features about the Drainage System of India
There exists a lot of unique and crucial features about the drainage system of India, and some important ones among them can be listed as follows-
Unique Catchment Places Drainage System of India
The peninsular rivers of India and the other river basins have a particular catchment area or section attached to its corner that prevents the overflow and mixing of the water's toxic substances. This maintains a good pace with the drainage water and does not bother the whole river at all.
These catchment areas also have some space for future infrastructure and development. The design does not remain outdated and incapable of handling future troubles that may be unavoidable at some points in time.
Therefore, these catchments have facilitated giving a solid pace to the people in the first place for sure.
The Perfection of the Peninsular Drainage System
India has a vibrant river heritage and offers excellent, and the peninsular drainage system is the world-famous one among the other methods. India's peninsular drainage system has a lot of various aspects and is distributed evenly throughout the coast and middle of Indian states.
The peninsular rivers of India map show all the locations and peninsular spots in the country and describe the importance of the same. The primary and most essential rivers included in the peninsular drainage system are the Mahanadi, the Krishna, the Godavari, and the Kaveri. All these rivers are the base of the whole peninsular system, and for the development of the same, the infrastructure is also required to be impactful and creative in their ways.
Vast Drainage Basins of India
Another fantastic speciality of India's drainage system is the vast drainage basins present in it and the properties and advantages that they offer to the people in the first place. These basins also have prominent infrastructural and exponential places and are innovative and creative in their ways and manners.
Therefore, having a vast and elaborated drainage basin is also the most important and prosperous aspect of India's drainage system, and it is the responsibility of every individual to create an impressive and out-of-the-box infrastructural layout for the new generations to come and take advantage of the same.
Some of the states in India always face the flood every year, which causes a lot of damage to people and properties. A proper drainage system will help in wiping out that danger. To conclude, India's drainage system has evolved to a great extent in previous years. For the same reason, many new and innovative plans and policies have come into existence. The different types of drainage systems in India have connected many states in it with each other and have maintained good relations between them in the first place.
For the betterment of a country's good infrastructure, learning how the water divide in India is crucial and essential, and people should take this into proper consideration. Building an appropriate drainage system is the strength of every country, and cherishing it is the respective government's sole responsibility.
FAQs on Drainage Systems of India
1. What are the two main drainage systems of India?
The drainage systems of India are broadly classified into two major groups based on their origin and characteristics:
The Himalayan Drainage System: This system consists of rivers that originate in the Himalayas. These rivers are perennial, meaning they have water throughout the year as they are fed by both melting snow and rainfall. Major examples include the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river systems.
The Peninsular Drainage System: This system includes rivers that originate in the Peninsular Plateau. These rivers are mostly seasonal, as their flow is dependent on monsoon rainfall. Important rivers in this system include the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, and Tapi.
2. What is the main difference between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers?
The main differences between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers are based on their origin, flow, and features:
Origin: Himalayan rivers originate from the snow-capped Himalayan mountains, while Peninsular rivers originate from the Peninsular Plateau and central highlands.
Nature of Flow: Himalayan rivers are perennial (flow all year) because they are fed by glaciers and rain. Peninsular rivers are seasonal (or non-perennial) as they depend primarily on monsoon rains.
Course: Himalayan rivers have long, meandering courses and are highly erosive, forming deep gorges and carrying large amounts of sediment. Peninsular rivers have shorter, shallower courses as they flow over harder, older rock surfaces.
Drainage Basins: Himalayan rivers have very large, extensive drainage basins, whereas Peninsular rivers have relatively smaller basins.
3. Why are most Peninsular rivers seasonal while Himalayan rivers are perennial?
This key difference is due to their primary source of water. Himalayan rivers are perennial because they receive a continuous supply of water from two sources: the melting of snow and glaciers from the high Himalayas during the summer, and rainfall during the monsoon season. In contrast, the Peninsular rivers are mostly seasonal because their flow is almost entirely dependent on monsoon rainfall. During the dry summer months, their water volume decreases significantly, and some smaller tributaries may even dry up.
4. What are the different types of drainage patterns found in India? Give examples.
A drainage pattern refers to the geometric arrangement of rivers and their tributaries in a region, which is influenced by the landscape's slope, rock type, and structure. The main patterns found in India are:
Dendritic Pattern: This is a tree-like pattern where tributaries join the main river at acute angles. It develops where the river channel follows the slope of the terrain, for example, the rivers of the Northern Plains like the Ganga.
Trellis Pattern: This pattern develops in regions of folded topography where hard and soft rocks exist parallel to each other. The primary tributaries flow parallel to each other and are joined by secondary tributaries at right angles. This is common in the upper Himalayan regions.
Radial Pattern: This pattern develops when streams flow in different directions from a central peak or dome-like structure. The rivers originating from the Amarkantak range are a prime example.
5. What is a water divide? Can you give an example from India?
A water divide is an elevated geographical feature, such as a mountain, ridge, or upland, that separates two adjacent drainage basins. Rainwater or meltwater falling on one side of the divide flows into one river system, while water on the other side flows into a different system. A prominent example in India is the Western Ghats, which acts as a major water divide for the Peninsular rivers, separating the west-flowing rivers (like Narmada and Tapi) from the east-flowing rivers (like Godavari and Krishna).
6. What are the three major river systems of the Himalayan drainage?
The Himalayan drainage is dominated by three major and extensive river systems, each with numerous large tributaries:
The Indus River System: One of the longest rivers in the world, it originates in Tibet near Lake Mansarovar and flows through Ladakh before entering Pakistan. Its main tributaries in India are the Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj.
The Ganga River System: Originating from the Gangotri Glacier as the Bhagirathi, it is joined by the Alaknanda to form the Ganga. Its major tributaries include the Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi from the north, and the Chambal, Betwa, and Son from the south.
The Brahmaputra River System: Originating in Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo, it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. It flows through Assam before entering Bangladesh. Its main tributaries are Dibang, Lohit, and Kenula.
7. What are the major Peninsular rivers of India and where do they drain?
The major Peninsular rivers are classified based on the direction they flow and where they drain their water:
East-flowing rivers: These rivers are longer and form large deltas before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The main ones are the Mahanadi, the Godavari (largest Peninsular river, also called 'Dakshin Ganga'), the Krishna, and the Kaveri.
West-flowing rivers: These rivers are shorter and typically form estuaries instead of deltas before draining into the Arabian Sea. The two most significant west-flowing rivers are the Narmada and the Tapi, which flow through rift valleys.
8. Why do the Narmada and Tapi rivers flow westwards into the Arabian Sea, unlike most other Peninsular rivers?
The westward flow of the Narmada and Tapi rivers is a unique feature in the Peninsular drainage system. This is because these rivers do not flow on the general slope of the plateau but instead occupy rift valleys. These are long, narrow valleys created by the faulting or cracking of the Earth's crust. This geological depression slopes towards the west, directing the flow of these rivers into the Arabian Sea, contrary to the eastward slope of the rest of the Peninsular plateau.
9. How do rivers contribute to the economy of India?
Rivers are often called the lifelines of a nation and are fundamental to India's economy in several ways:
Agriculture: They are the primary source of water for irrigation, making agriculture possible in large parts of the country. The fertile alluvial soil deposited by rivers in the northern plains supports a vast agrarian economy.
Hydroelectric Power: The potential energy of rivers flowing from high elevations is harnessed to generate electricity, a crucial component of India's energy sector.
Navigation: Several major rivers serve as inland waterways for transporting goods and people, which is an economical mode of transport.
Livelihoods and Industries: Rivers support fishing communities and provide water for domestic and industrial use in towns and cities along their banks.
