Drainage

Q.3Compare the east flowing and the west flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau
Ans.
East flowing rivers West flowing rivers
1. They form deltas before flowing into the 1. They form estuaries before flowing into
Bay of Bengal. the Arabian sea.
2. They form through shallow valleys. 2. They flow through troughs.
3. Ex:-Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi are the 3. Ex:-Narmada & Tapi are the main rivers
main rivers flowing towards east. flowing towards west.

Q.4 Why are rivers important for the country’s economy?

Ans. Rivers are the lifeline of the human civilization. Early civilizations started and
flourished in the river valley. In modern times also they have great importance for the
country’s economy.
a) a) Rivers provide water for irrigation, industrial and domestic use.
b) They are used to produce hydroelectricity, which is cheap and pollution free.
c) Rivers are used for navigation.
d) Rivers bring sediments and make the soil fertile.

Extra Questions
Q.1 What are the causes of river pollution? How can it be controlled?
Ans. Following are the reasons of the river pollution:
-a) Reduction in the volume of the river water because of increasing population and growing
demand of water
.b) Discharge of untreated sewage water, industrial effluents and domestic waste into the
rivers.
c) Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in fields which sometimes pollute the river water
when they are washed away along with the soil.
Measures to control river pollution:
a) Sewage water & industrial effluent should be treated before disposing in the river
b) Awareness should be created among people regarding the bad effects of river pollution
c) People should not be allowed to throw different articles like ashes, flowers, etc in the river
water.
d) Proper planning should be made to clean rivers.
Q.2What are lakes? How are the lakes formed?
Ans. A deep depression on the earth’s surface filled with water is called a lake. Lakes are of
different types. Lakes are natural or manmade. They can be fresh water or salt water lakes.
Formation of lakes: -
a) In mountainous regions some lakes are formed by glaciers. Glaciers dig out a basin which
is later filled with snow melt.
b) Lakes are also formed because of tectonic activities. Ex.- Wular Lake.
c) In plains, oxbow lakes are formed by a meandering river.
d) In coastal areas, lakes are formed when a part of the sea is cut off from the main sea by
sand bars.
e) Some lakes are made artificially by man.
Q.3 What do you mean by inland drainage? Where do we have inland drainage in India?
Ans. Inland drainage is a system in which rivers do not reach the sea or the ocean but fall into
a lake or an inland sea. Rajasthan in India is the example of inland drainage. Many rivers of
Rajasthan drain into lakes.
Q.4 What is braided stream?
Ans. When the channels of the river have large islands within, it is called a braided stream.
River Brahmaputra has braided channels in most of its length in Assam.
Q.5What is Indus water treaty?
Ans. This treaty was signed between India & Pakistan in 1960 for the use of Indus water.
According to this treaty, India can use only 20% of the total water carried by river Indus.
Q.6 Which river of peninsular India is known as Dakshin Ganga & why?
Ans. Godavari is known as Dakshin Ganga. It is 1500 km long and it is the longest river of
peninsular India. Its drainage basin is also the largest in peninsular India.
Q.7 Write a short note on Indus River system.
Ans. i) Indus is the one of the most important rivers which along with Ganga &Brahmaputra
has made the northern Indian plains
ii) Its total length is 2900 kms.
iii) It rises in Tibet near Mansarowar Lake.
Iv It emerges from the mountains to plains at Attock.
v) This river is perennial and drains a large area of India & Pakistan.
vi) In India, it flows through Leh and Ladakk,Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and
Punjab.
vii) It drains into Arabian Sea.
viii) It enters India from Ladakh and here it is joined by Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok & Hunza
ix) Its major tributaries are Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Chenab & Jhelum which meet Indus at
Mithankot in Pakistan.
Q.8 Write a short note on Ganga River system.
Ans. 1. Bhagirithi and Alaknanda are the two headwaters of Ganga. These headstreams join
at Devaprayag in Uttrakhand to form Ganga.
2. At Haridwar Ganga emerges from mountains on to the plains.
3. Yammuna, Chambal, Betwa and Son are the right bank tributaries of Ganga while
Ghagra, Gandhk and Kosi form its left bank tributaries.
4. Ganga bifurcates at Farakka in West Bengal. The Bhagirathi- Hooghly flows from West
Bengal into Bay of Bengal and the main stream flows into Bangladesh to join Brahmaputra.
5. The joint stream of two mighty rivers is called Meghana. It flows into Bay of Bengal to
form the largest delta of the world, the Sunderban delta.
6. The length of Ganga is 2500 km and it has the largest river basin in India.
Q. 9 Write a short note on Brahmaputra River system.
Ans. 1. The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansrover.
2. It flows eastward parallel to Himalaya and takes a ‘U’ turn from Namcha Barwa and
enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge.
 3. Here it is called Dihang and joined by Dibang and Lohit and other tributaries to form
Brahmaputra.
4. In Tibet, Brahmaputra receives less rainfall. Hence, it carries less water and less silt.
When it enters India, it passes through a region of heavy rainfall. Here the river carries a
large volume of water & more silt.
5. The Brahmaputra has braided channel in Assam and forms many riverine islands. Majuli
is the largest riverine island.
Q. 10 Write a short note on Godavari basin.
Ans. 1. Godavari rises from the slopes of Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
2. It is about 1500km long.
3. Godavari is known as Dakshin Ganga as it is the longest river of peninsular India and
covers a large area.
4. Its main tributaries are Purna, Wardha Pranhita, Manjra, Wainganga, Penganga etc.
5. its basin is in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orisha and Andhra Pradesh.

One Mark Questions

1. Name the largest tributary of Ganga.
Ans. Yammuna
2. Name the two large rivers of India that flow into Arabian sea.
Ans. Narmada & Tapi
3.Name the place/city where Ganga joins Yamuna.
Ans. Allahabad
4. Which is the largest freshwater lake in India? Where is it located?
Ans. Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir
5. Which is the largest saltwater lake in India and where is it located?
Ans. Chillika Lake in Orissa
6. Name the region where most of the freshwater lakes of India are located.
Ans. Himalayan region
7. Name the main water divides in peninsular India.
Ans. Western ghats
8. Name the peninsular river which rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar.
Ans. Krishna
9. Name the famous place where Ganga emerges from the mountains to plains.
Ans. Haridwar
10. What is drainage basin?
Ans. The area drained by the river along with its tributaries is called a drainage basin.
11. Which is the northernmost point of Ganga delta?
Ans. Farakka
12. Narmada & Tapi flow through which type of valley?
Ans. Rift valley
13. Which river forms braided channels & riverine islands?
Ans. Brahmaputra
14. Which city is located at the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna?
Ans. Allahabad
15. Name three rivers which rise in Tibet near Mansarowar Lake.
Ans. Indus, Satluj (to the west of Mansarowar) & Brahmaputra (to the east of Mansarowar)
16.Brahmaputra is called ________ in Arunachal Pradesh.
Ans. Dihang
17. What type of lake is formed by a meandering river?
Ans. Ox-bow Lake
18. From which glacier does Yamuna River originate?
Ans. Yamunotri glacier
19.Brahmaputra is called ________ in Tibet
Ans. Tsang Po
20. From which glacier does Bhagirathi originate?
Ans. Gangotri glacier
21. Which river has the world’s largest drainage basin?
Ans. Amazon River
22. Which river in India has the largest drainage basin?
Ans. Ganga River