Geography for SSC CGL/10+2

Drainage System

Of India

Water drains in two directions of the main water divide line of India. 90% of land water drains into Bay of Bengal and the rest drains into Arabian Sea.

Himalayan River which originated before the formation of Himalayan are known as Antecedent River, such as- Indus, Brahmaputra and Sutlej.

INDUS SYSTEM

(i) Indus (Sindhu)

·         It originates from Mansarovar Lake (Tibet). It flows between Zaskar and Ladakh ranges. Its tributaries in J&K are Zaskar, Astor, Shyok, Kurram, Gilgit etc. the left bank tributaries are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.

·         It is called Sengge Khabab in Tibet.

(ii) Jhelum (Vitasta)

·         It originates from verinag stream in J & K at 4900m height & flows only in J & K. it passes through Wular Lake in Kashmir valley.

·         It joins Chenab at Trimmu (Pakistan)

·         Kishan Ganga and Lidar are important tributaries of Jhelum.

·         Controversial Tulbul Project is located on this river.

(iii) Chenab (Akini)

·         It originates from Chandra- Bhaga stream in Himachal P radish near Lahul & Spiti. It flows in Himachal Pradesh and J& K.

·         Controversial Baglihar Project is located across this river in Doda district of J & K.

·         Salal hydropower project is also located on river Chenab.

(iv)  Ravi (Parushni)

·         It originates from kullu hills near Rohtang pass (Himachal Pradesh). It flows in Himachal Pradesh, J& K and Punjab.

·         Ranjit Sagar (also known as Thein Dam) is located on river Ravi.

(v) Beas (Vipasha)

·         It originates from Beas kund near Rohtang pass in Himachal Pradesh and flows in Himachal Pradesh & Punjab.

·         It joins Sutlej at Harike (Punjab). Indira Gandhi Canal takes off from Harike barrage, which is the longest irrigation canal of India. It runs up to Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.

·         Pong reservoir is constructed across this river.

(vi) Sutlej (Satudri)

·         It originates from Rakash tal near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet and enters into India through Shipkila pass (Himachal Pradesh)

·         Sutlej flows in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

·         Famous Bhakra-Nangal Project is located on this river. Bhakra dam is also called Govind Sagar dam.

·         It forms boundary between India and Pakistan near Ferozpur.

·         It is known as Langchen Khambab in Tibet.

GANGA SYSTEM

·         Ganga is the longest river of India (2510km).

·         It originates as Bhagirathi from Gangotri glacier in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

·         Bhagirathi is joined by Alaknanda (originates from Badrinath) at Devprayag. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi flow in the name of Ganga below Devprayag.

·         Famous Tehri Dam is being constructed on river Bhagirathi.

Important Tributaries of Ganga

(A) Left Bank Tributaries

1. Ramganga: it originates near Nainital and joins Ganga near Farukhabad (Uttar Pradesh).

2. Gomit: it originates near Pilibhit and joins Ganga downstream to Varanasi near Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh).

3. Kali or Sarda: it joins Ghaghra which meets Ganga near Chhapra (Bihar).

4. Gandak: it originates from Nepal- China border in Tibet and joins Ganga near Hajipur (Bihar).

5. Kosi: it originates from Nepal- China border and is also known as Sorrow of Bihar.

6. Mahananda: it originates from Nepal- Sikkim border and joins Ganga in Bangladesh.

(B) Right Bank Tributaries

Yamuna: It originates from Yamunotri glacier (Uttarakhand) and joins Ganga at Important Tributaries of Yamuna are Chambal (originates from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh), Betwa, Dhasan, ken etc.

Son: it originates from Amarkantak plateau and flows towards north and joins Ganga near Manner (Danapur, Bihar) upstream of Patna.

BRAHMAPUTRA SYSTEM

·         It originates from Tumcho Khambhat glacier in Mansarover Lake of Tibet.

·         It is known as Tsangpo in Tibet, Dihang or Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

·         Brahmaputra forms largest number of riverine islands. Majuli is the largest riverin island in the world.

·         Brahmaputra is volume wise largest river of India where as lengthwise Ganga is the longest in India.

·         Imporatnet tributaries of Brahmaputra are Subansiri, Jia Bhorelli, Dibang or Sikang, Lohit Koppali, Tista, Jal Dhaka, Torsa, Barak etc. Last four of these join in Bangladesh.

WEST FLOWING PENINSULAR RIVERS

(i) Ghagghar: it originates from Himachal Pradesh and dries into Rann of Katchh. It is an inland river which is not able to reach oceans.

(ii) Luni: it originates from Annasagar in Ajmer district. It is also disappears in Rann of katchh.

(iii) Sabarmati: it originates near Mewar in Aravali range. It falls into Gulf of Khambat.

(iv) Mahi: it rises from Vindhyan range, flows in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

(v) Narmada: it originates from Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh. It is longest among west flowing rivers. It flows between satpura and Vindhyan range. It flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Famous waterfalls Dhuandhar & Kapildhara are located on this river

(vi) Tapti: it is known as twins of Narmada. It originates near Multai in Betul district (Madhya Pradesh).

(vii) Saravati (Karnataka): India’s highest water falls jog (Gershoppa) is situated across this river.

(viii) Pumba, Periyar & Bharatpuja: These are important west flowing rivers in kerala.

Longest River of India

River                                               Length

Indus…………………………………….. 2900 km

Brahmaputra………………………… 2900 km

Ganga…………………………………… 2510 km

Godavari……………………………….. 1465 km

Krishna…………………………………. 1400 km

Yamuna………………………………… 1370 km

Narmada………………………………. 1312 km

Ghaghara………………………………. 1080 km

EAST FLOWING PENINSULAR RIVERS

(i) Subarnarekha

·         It originates from Ranchi plateau in Jharkhand.

·         Its tributaries are kanchi and karfari.

(ii) Mahanadi

·         It originates near Pharsia village in Raipur district (Chhattisgarh).

·         Its tributaries are Sheonath, Hasdo, Mand, Jonk and Tel.

·         Hirakud Multipurpose Project is located across this river in Orissa.

(iii) Godavari

·         It is longest river of peninsular India and is also known as Dakshin Ganga.

·         It originates from Trumbak near Nasik in Maharashtra.

·         Its tributaries are Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha, Indravati, Sabri, etc.

(iv) Krishna

·         It originates from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. It flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

·         Its tributaries are koyna, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi, Muneru, etc.

·         Nagarjuna Sagar and Alamatti Dams are constructed across this river.

(v) Pennar

·         It originates from Nandidurga hills in kolar district of Karnataka.

(vi) Kaveri

·         It originates from kaveripatnam near Brahmagiri in Karnataka. It flows through Karnataka, kerala and Tamil Nadu.

·         Its tributaries are Hemavati, Shimsa, Arkavati, Lokpavani, Herangi, Bhavani, Subaravati, Kabani, Amravati, etc.

·         Krishanraj Sagar Dam is constructed across this river. This dam is a joint venture of kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

IMPORTANT LAKES OF INDIA

Lakes of Jammu & Kashmir

·         Wular and Dal lakes are sweet lakes. Wular Lake is largest lake of J & K. Wular Lake was created due to tectonic activities.

·         Pangkong, Tsomarari and Salt lakes are salty lakes. Pangkong is in Ladakh.

·         Small lakes in Kashmir are called as torns.

Lakes of Kumaon

·         Nainital, Bhimtal, Sat tal and Khowa tal.

·         Most of these are tectonic lakes.

Coastal Lakes

·         Chilika Lake:- it is in Ganjam district of Orissa. It is a saline and lagoon lake. It is the largest lake of India.

·         Pulicat Lake: it is in the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It is also saline and Lagoon Lake.

·         Vembanad Lake: it is a lagoon lake in Kerala.

·         Kolleru Lake: it is located in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is a freshwater lake

·         Lagoon lakes in Kerala are called Kayal.

Lakes of Rajasthan

·         Sambhar Lake: It is a shallow lake which is saline, located near Jaipur.

·         Dhands:  These are alkaline and saline lakes in western Rajasthan. These are aeoline origin (wind erosion).

·         Annasagar: it is located near Aravalis.

Lakes of Maharashtra

·         Lonar: it is volcanic Crater Lake in Buldhana area of Maharashtra. The water is highly charged with sodium carbonates and sodium chloride and therefore is saline.

·         Andhra Lake, Beale Lake, Mulshi Lake are other important lakes of Maharashtra.

·         Maharashtra has largest number of lakes.

Lakes of N.E. States

·         Logtak Lake: it is a fresh water lake having inland drainage in Manipur.

Important Lakes of Tibet

·         Kokonoor is the largest lake of Tibet

·         Mansarovar lake, Rakash tal and Gunchu Tso etc. are also lakes of Tibet. Mansarover and Rakashtal are freshwater lakes where as Gunchu Tso is saline.

·         Parichu Lake was created recently due to tectonic activities.

Important Waterfalls of India

Falls	River	Description
Jog/ Gersoppa	Saravati	Highest waterfall of India located in Karnataka
Shiv Samudram	Kaveri	Karnataka
Gokak	Ghatprabha	Karnataka
Pykara	Pykara	Tamil Nadu
Dhuandhra	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh (it is known as “the smoke that thunders”)
Kapildhara	Narmada	Madhya Pradesh
Hundru	Subarnarekha	Jharkhand
Dhudh sagar	Mandovi	Goa