Geography

The plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major rivers. 1. The Indus 2. The Ganga 3. The Brahmaputra, along with their tributaries. This plain is formed of alluvial soil. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 Km long and 240 to 320 km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division. With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favorable climate it is agriculturally a very productive part of India. The rivers coming from northern mountains are involved in depositional work. In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands. The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of silt. These channels are known as distributaries. The vast plain can be sub divided into the following :
(A) The Indus River Basin : This region is drained by the Indus and its tributaries the Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, Ravi and Satluj. River Satluj also rises in the himalayas. The water of these rivers flow into the Arabian Sea. The Punjab Plains are formed by the five main tributaries of the Indus and hence the name ‘Punjab’ meaning the land of five rivers. This section of the plains is dominated by the doabs.
(B) The Ganga Brahamputra Basin : The Ganga enters the northern Plains at Haridwar and flows eastward. On its way to the sea, it is joined by the number of tributaries both from north and south. It is joined by the Brahamputra in Bangladesh, which enters India in Arunachal Pradesh. Flowing south for a while the Brahmaputra turns west and across Assam. Upon reaching Bangladesh, it turns south again. The joint stream of the Ganga and Brahamaputra flows by the name of Meghna and drains into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganga Brahmputra Delta (the Sunderbans) is the world’s largest and the fastest growing delta.