Drainage Systems in India

The Himalayan river system The Peninsular river system

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 Himalayan river system

Himalayan rivers are They perform an

immense
perennial
erosional activity
in the upper
course.
Brahmaputra and
Indus make
gorges.

Carry huge loads of silt and sand

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In the middle and
lower course they
form meanders,
oxbow lakes,
flood plains and
deltas.

Ganga, Indus and

Brahmaputra are the
major rivers.

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 Peninsular rivers They are
seasonal and
depend on
rainfall

Has short and

shallower course

Less erosional
activities in
upper course.

During dry
season it has
reduced flow of
water.
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• Do not carry much • The Narmada and
silt, so there are no Tapi originate in
major plains. Land Central Highland
is fertile only in and flows towards
delta areas. Arabian Sea.
• The Mahanadi,
Godavari,
Krishna and
Kaveri originate
in western Ghats
and flows
towards Bay of
Bengal.
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 A river has 3 stage-- Upper course, Middle course
and lower course

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 There are 4 types of
Drainage Pattern drainage pattern

The streams within a

drainage basin form • 1. Dendritic
certain patterns, pattern
depending on the • 2. Trellis pattern
slope of land, • 3. Rectangular
pattern
underlying rock
• 4. Radial pattern
structures as well as
the climatic
conditions of the
area

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