1. DRAINAGE
RIVER SYSTEMS OF INDIA

3. Water divide IMPORTANT TERMS
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

6. 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.

7. River cycle and fluvial landforms
Features formed in youthful stage: v shape valley, waterfall alluvial fans
Features formed in mature stage: meanders , ox bow lake , flood plains, levees
Features formed in old stage: Delta , distributaries

8. Young stage
Mature stage
Old stage

9. Himalayan and peninsular rivers
Himalayan river
1.Perennial in nature
2.Source of origin -glaciers
3.Have long courses and perform intense erosion.
4.Mainly of dendritic pattern
and forms well developed deltas.
5.Comparatively younger in origin.
Peninsular river
Non perennial in nature
Source of origin lakes.
Have shallower and shorter courses.
Combination of dendritic, trellis and rectangular pattern .
Show graded profile.

10. Himalayan river systems

11. s.no
Name of the river
Origin & drain into
Tributaries
remarks 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 2900km 2.
Ganga
Gangotri Glacier in Uttrakhand
Bay of Bengal
From Himalayan side-Yamuna,Ghaghara, Gandhak,Kosi
From peninsula side-Chambal,Betwa,Son
Formes the largest delta of the world along rivert Brahmaputra-Sunderban 3.
Brahmaputra
East of lake Mansarowar in Tibet
Dibang, Dihang and Lohit
Take u turn at Namcha Barwa to enter India

12. Indus Water Treaty : This treaty is about Sharing of the water of the River Indus between India and Pakistan. India can use 20% of the total water.

13. Ganga River System
Headwater of River Ganga – Bhagirathi(origin Gangotri) and Alaknanda joins at Devaprayag to form Ganga
At Haridwar emerge from mountains
Northernmost point of Ganga delta-Farakka in W.Bengal
Divide into Bhagirathi and Hoogly
Mainstream flows southward joined by Brahmaputra and known as Meghna. Forms Sunderban delta named after sundari tree.
Total length 2500km
Ambala forms water divide between Indus and Ganga

14. Bramhmaputra river system
Also known as Tsang Po in Tibet and jamuna in Bangladesh
Carries less silt in Tibet region and lagre amount of silt in Indian part
Many problems are associated with it –floods, sedimentation of river bed and frequent shifting of its channel.
Forms worlds largest riverine island- Majuli island in the state of Assam.

15. The Peninsular rivers

16. Peninsular River River Origin and drain into Tributaries Remark
Narmada
Amarkantak hills in M.P
Into Arabian sea
Hiran, Kolar ,Tawa
Forms Dhuan Dhar fall in Jabalpur (Marble Rock)
Forms esturie
Tapi
Multai in Betul distt of M.P
Purna,Betul,Amravati
Called twin of River Narmada
Mahanadi
Dhandkaranya
in Chhattisgarh
Drains into Bay of Bengal
Ib,Sheonath,Tel
Hirakund Dam is built on this river
It is the most important river of
Peninsular River

17. Peninsular River River Origin and drain into Tributaries Remark
Godavari
Nasik district in Maharashtra
Drain into Bay of Bengal
Penganga,Wainganga, Indravati
Longest river of peninsular India
Also called Dakshin Ganga
Forms Denderitic 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 bank of River Musi one of the main tributary
Cauvery (Kaveri)
Rise in Brahmagri range of Western Ghates
Amaravati and Shiva
Main river for southern -most states
Forms Delta
Peninsular River

18. Economic Benefits of river
Agricultural use, industrial use
Hydro electricity production
Formation of flood plains
Inland transportation
Water for domestic use

19. Lakes of India Classification on the basis of the origin:
Natural lakes-Glacial lakes (Dal lake),Lagoons(Pulicat lake),lakes formed due to inland drainage(Sambhar lake)
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.