Chapter : 3. Drainage
Drainage of India
Drainage : The term drainage is used to describe the river system or an area.
Drainage basin : The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.
Water divide : The upland that separates the flow of two rivers or river system.
Drainage Pattern A drainage system refers to the origin and development of stream through time while drainage pattern means spatial arrangement and form of drainage system in term of geometrical shapes in the area. They are different types.
1. Trellis Pattern : In this pattern, the tributaries can be seen meeting the main stream at right angle.
2. Dendritic Drainage pattern : The tributaries come from all directions to meet the main river.
3. Parallel Drainage Pattern : In this pattern numerous rivers which are parallel to each other and follow the regional slope.
4. Radial Drainage pattern : Radial drainage pattern also known as centrifugal pattern is formed by the streams which diverge from a central higher point in all directions.
On the basis of origin, two broad drainage system of India are generally recognised.
1. The Himalayan Rivers
2. The Peninsular Rivers.
River-system : A river alongwith its tributaries may be called a river system.
| | The Himalayan rivers | The Peninsular rivers |
|---|
| 1 | These rivers originate from the glaciers | These rivers originate on the plateau |
| 2 | Their catchment area is very large | Their catchment area is very small |
| 3 | These rivers pass through gorge and carve deep valleys | These rivers form shallow valleys |
| 4 | These rivers are young | These have acquired maturity |
| 5 | These are engaged in high erosion activity | These have very little erosional activity |
| 6 | These are useful for irrigation | These are of little use for irrigation |
| 7 | These rivers are perennial, i.e., they flow throughout the year | These rivers are non-perennial |
| 8 | Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra are the main rivers | Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada and Tapti are major rivers |
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