Notes

RIVERS IN INDIA

Where is the source of a river? Where do most rivers go?

The source of a river is usually found in high places such as hills or mountains. A river can have more than one source. Rivers flow from high areas towards low areas. They are fed by melting snow and ice, or by rainwater running off the land. Small streams meet and join together, growing larger and larger until the flow can be called a river.

The term river system refers to a ‘river along with its tributaries’. Based on their source, the Indian River system is classified into:

a. Himalayan Rivers

b. Peninsular Rivers

a. The Himalayan Rivers: As the name suggests, these rivers originate from the Himalayas and flow through the Northern Plains. The Himalayan Rivers are perennial rivers (A perennial river is a river that has continuous flow in all year round during years of normal rainfall) as they originate in snow covered Himalayan mountains. During summers, the snow melts and the rivers get continuous supply of water.

The major Himalayan River systems are:

1. The Ganga River System: The river originates as Bhagirathi from a glacier called Gangotri, in the Himadri range of Himalayas at Uttarakhand. The Ganga is the longest river in India.

The Yamuna is the most important tributary of the Ganga River.

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Other important rivers:

The Indus River System

The Brahmaputra River System

b. Peninsular Rivers: Most of the peninsular rivers are rain fed rivers (Filled or supplied primarily with rainwater). Thus, they become dry during the summer season. They can be divided into two groups:

• East Flowing Rivers of India (or Delta forming rivers):

• West Flowing Rivers in India