Chapter 3: Drainage Handout

Class IX, Geography

Q.1. Define the term drainage.

Ans. The term drainage describes the river system of an area.

Q.2. What is a River System?

Ans: A river along with its tributaries and distributaries (if any) is known as a River System or a
Drainage system. Ex. Ganga River System, Indus River System etc.

Q.3. What is a drainage basin?

Ans: The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.

Q.4. What do you understand by the term Water Divide?

Ans: Any elevated area such as a mountain or an upland that separates two drainage basins is called a
Water Divide. Ex. Ambala act as a water divide between Indus and Ganga River System.

Q.5. Define the following:

Ans:
Perennial Rivers

Perennial rivers are those which have water throughout the year. These rivers receive water from rain as
well as from melted snow of the mountains. Ex. Ganga, Indus, Brahamaputra.

Seasonal Rivers

Seasonal rivers are those which are dependent upon rainfall for their flow. During the dry season,
even the large rivers have reduced the flow of water. Ex. Peninsular Rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari,
Narmada etc.

Q.6. What are the two types of drainage systems found in India?

Ans: Himalayan and Peninsular River systems.

Q.7. Name the rivers that originate from Mansarovar Lake.

Ans: River Indus, Satluj and Brahmaputra.

Q.8. Where does river Ganga leaves behind the mountains and enter the plains?
Ans: Haridwar (Uttarakhand)

Q.9. Which river flows in Tibet with the name Tsang Po?
Ans: Brahamaputra

Q.10. What is the source and mouth of the river?

Ans: The place from where the river originates is called as the Source of the river.

The place where the river meets its end is known as the Mouth of the river.

Q.11.Apart from Narmada and Tapi, name a few other west flowing rivers.

Ans: Sabarmati, Mahi, Periyar, Bharathpuzha.

Q.12. Which peninsular rivers flow through a rift valley/ trough?

Ans: Narmada and Tapi

Q.13. Which rivers have the largest river basins in India and in Peninsular India?

Ans: In India: Ganga, in Peninsular India: Godavari

Q.14. Explain the Indus Water Treaty.

Ans:
a. The Indus Water Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
b. According to the regulations of this treaty India can use only 20% of the total water carried by
Indus system.

c. This water is used for irrigation in the Punjab, Haryana and the southern and western parts of
Rajasthan.

Q.15. What are the features of Sundarbans Delta?

Ans:
a. The delta formed by the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra which is the largest delta of the world is
known as Sundarbans Delta. This is spread across the major coastal region of Bangladesh including
the state of West Bengal in India.

b. The delta derived its name from the Sundari trees which grows well in this marshland.

c. It is the world’s fastest growing delta.

d. It is also the home of Royal Bengal Tiger.

Q.16. Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer course?

Ans: In Tibet, the river carries a smaller volume of water and less silt as it is a cold and a dry
area.

When the river enters India, the volume of water increases by the tributaries added into it, high
rainfall and melting snow.
Therefore, Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part has less silt, despite a longer course.
Q.17. Which river is often referred to as ‘Dakshin Ganga’?

Ans: River Godavari is often referred to as ‘Dakshin Ganga’ as it is the largest river basin of
the peninsular region and also considered one of the holiest like the Ganga.

Q18.Describe any three important features of the Mahanadi basin.

Ans: The three important features are:
a) Mahanadi river rises in the highlands of Chattisgarh and flows through Odisha to form a delta in
the Bay of Bengal. Its length is 860 km.
b) Mahanadi basin covers parts of the states of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.
c) Due to the devastating floods that the river causes every year, the Hirakund dam has been built
on it. This river also forms the delta at it’s mouth.

Q19. Why are most of the Peninsular rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal? Give two reasons.
Ans: Most of the Peninsular rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal because of the following reasons:
a) The Eastern Ghats are lower than the Western Ghats and are also discontinuous thus making
it easier for the rivers to reach the Bay of Bengal.
b) The Deccan plateau has a gentle slope towards the east; thus, the rivers drain from the west
towards the east.
Q.20. Differentiate between the following:

Ans: Himalayan River system and Peninsular River system.

HIMALAYAN RIVER SYSTEM PENINSULAR RIVER SYSTEM

1. The Himalayan rivers originates from
the Himalayas.
2. Most of the Himalayan rivers are
perennial in nature, i.e., both rainfed
and snow fed.
3. Himalayan rivers have longer course
and carry more sediments in them.
4. These rivers are involved more in doing
erosional and depositional activities
and therefore, forms many land features
like valleys, gorges, meanders, ox-bow
lake, delta etc.
5. These rivers have got comparatively
larger drainage basin and flow in India
as well as other adjoining countries.
6. Ex. Indus River system, Brahmaputra
river system, Ganga River system.
B. Distributaries and Tributaries
The Peninsular rivers have their source in the
peninsula of the country.
Most of the peninsular rivers are seasonal in
nature i.e., only rainfed.
Peninsular rivers have shorter course and carry
less sediments in them.
These rivers are involved less in the erosional
and depositional activities. Most of the rivers
form only deltas.
The drainage basin formed by these rivers is
Smaller as these rivers originate in India and
also end within India.
Ex. Mahanadi basin, Godavari basin, Tapi
basin etc.

DISTRIBUTARIES TRIBUTARIES
1. Distributaries are the small channels of Tributaries are rivers or streams that join the
 rivers that separate themselves from the
main river before entering into the sea.
2. Distributaries are formed in the lower
course of the river.
3. Distributaries decreases the volume of
water and the sediments from the main
river.
4. Ex. Hoogli is a distributary of river
Ganga.
C. Delta and Estuary
main river.
Tributaries join the main river in the upper and
middle course of the river.
Tributaries increases the volume of water and
sediments deposition of the main river.
Ex. Yamuna is a tributary of Ganga.

DELTA
1. A delta is formed by the river when it is
about to enter the sea by forming
various distributaries.
2. It is roughly triangular in shape.
3. The delta region is highly fertile
because of the sediment deposition.
4. Agriculture can be practiced here.
5. Ex. River Ganga, Indus, Godavari,
Mahanadi forms delta.
ESTUARY
When the river directly enter the sea it forms
an estuary.
It is a funnel shaped land feature where the
salted water of the sea mixes with the fresh
waters carried by the river.
The region near estuary is not very fertile.
Estuary regions are good for fishing activites.
Ex. Narmada and Tapi forms estuary.

D. East flowing rivers and West flowing rivers.

EAST FLOWING RIVERS WEST FLOWING RIVERS

1. These rivers originate from or near to
the Western Ghats and flows towards
east.
2. These peninsular rivers have longer
courses and more sediments deposition.
3. Most of the east flowing rivers forms
delta while entering into the Bay of
Bengal.
4. Ex. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
Kaveri.
These rivers originate from east and flows
towards western India.
These rivers have shorter courses and carry
less sediment with them.
Most of the rivers forms estuary while entering
the Arabian sea.
Ex. Narmada and Tapi

Q.21. Explain the different formations of lakes.

Ans:
A. Oxbow Lake

An ox -bow lake is formed when the meandering river across flood plain forms cut offs due to the rise
in water current, mainly during the rainy seasons. The older part of the river curve remains cut off
and left behind to form a lake called an Ox – Bow Lake or Horse shoe lake due to its shape.
B. Lagoons

Spits and bars in the coastal areas formed by the depositional work of oceanic movement forms a
lagoon. Examples are Chilika lake (largest lake in India), Pulikat lake, Kolleru lake, Vembanad lake
etc.

C. Seasonal Lakes

Lakes in the region of inland drainage are sometimes seasonal which depends upon the rainfall.
Example: Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan which is a salt water lake.

D. Glacial Lake

These types of lakes are mostly found in Himalayan region. They are formed when glaciers dug out a
basin which was later filled by the melting of the snow. Examples are. Wular lake in Jammu &
Kashmir. It is the largest fresh water lake in India.

E. Artificial Lakes

Damming of rivers for the generation of hydel power has also led to the formation of lakes.
Examples are Guru Gobind Sagar on Bhakra Nangal Project, Sardar Sarovar dam,etc.

Q.22. Why lakes are important for human beings?

Ans:
a. Regulate the flow of river: Lakes help to regulate the flow of a river. During heavy rainfall, it
prevents flooding and during the dry season, it helps to maintain an even flow of water.
b. Generation of Hydel Power: Damming of rivers is done in order to store the water for the
generation of Hydro electricity. Ex. Hirakud dam on Mahanadi River.
c. Promote Tourism: Lakes are always an attraction for tourists for recreation. Lakes enhance the
natural beauty of the adjoining area and hence, promote tourism. Ex. Wular lake, Dal Lake in Jammu
& Kashmir.

d. Moderate Climate: Lakes also help in moderating the climate of the adjoining area that supports
ecosystem within the lake and also outside the lake.
e. Source of rivers: Many lakes are also the major source for many rivers. Ex. Indus, Satluj,
Brahamaputra have their source in the Mansarovar lake.
Q.23. What is the role of a river in building up of an economy?

Ans:
a. Cradle of Civilization

River banks have attracted settlers from ancient times. All the major civilizations of the
world were settled near to the river banks. Ex. Indus Valley Civilization, Nile Civilization etc. Even
today, many important cities of the world are settled near to the river banks.
b. Basic Natural Resource

Rivers have been of fundamental importance throughout the human history. Water from
the rivers is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities.

c. Deposition of Sediments

The deposition of sediments done by the rivers makes the river banks highly good for
cultivation, thus, promoting agriculture over there.

d. Other uses

Using rivers for irrigation, navigation, hydro-power generation is of special significance for a
country.

Q.24. What are the main causes of increasing river pollution?

Ans:
a. Industrial Effluents: A heavy load of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are emptied into
the rivers. This affects the quality of water and also the self cleansing capacity of the river.

b. Urbanization: Modern trends of living consume more water. Moreover, the sewage problems in
cities have further added to the problem of water pollution.

c. Domestic Use: The use of rivers and lakes done for domestic purposes like washing and
bathing is adding to the problem of water pollution.
Q25. Which is the largest tributary of the Ganga?
Ans: The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga.
Q26. Which is the main watershed in peninsular India?
Ans: The main watershed (source of river/ water) in peninsular India is formed by the Western ghats
as many peninsular rivers originates in this region.
Q27. With which river is the Nagarjuna Sagar river valley project associated?
Ans: Nagarjuna Sagar river valley project is associated with the river Krishna.
Q 28. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of West Bengal”?
Ans: Damodar River is known as the “Sorrow of West Bengal” because this river used to bring
widespread floods and miseries in the plains of West Bengal.
Q29. When was Ganga Action Plan launched?
Ans: In the year 1985 Ganga Action Plan was launched.
Q30. What is the objective of the NRCP (National River Conservation Plan)?
Ans: The objective of NRCP is to improve the water quality of the rivers through the implementation
of pollution abatement work.