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CBSE Class 9 GEOGRAPHY Notes (3. DRAINAGE)

Drainage - The river system of an area is called drainage.

• If we look at the physical map we will notice that small streams flowing from different directions come together to form
the main river, which ultimately drains into a large water body such as a lake or a sea or an ocean.
• The term drainage describes the river system of an area.
Drainage basin - The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.

Water divide - An Upland that separates the flow of two rivers or river system is called water divide.

Do you know?

The world’s largest drainage basin is of the Amazon River.

Drainage pattern:

A drainage system refers to the origin and development of stream through time while drainage pattern means arrangement
and form of drainage system in terms of geometrical shapes in the area.

Trellis Pattern: A rectangular pattern formed when a long river is joined by short flowing streams, approximately at right
angle is called Trellis Pattern.

• In this pattern, the tributaries can be seen meeting the main stream at almost right angle.
• Trellis pattern develops where hard and soft rocks exist parallel to each other.
Dendritic drainage pattern: This pattern is formed when a single main stream is joined by its tributaries forming
branches of tree is called Dendritic drainage pattern.

• This pattern develops where the river channel follows the slope of the terrain.
• The stream with its tributaries resembles the branches of tree.
Rectangular drainage pattern: A type of drainage pattern which is in 90° in the sheet is called Rectangular drainage
pattern.

• In this pattern numerous rivers which are parallel to each other and follow the regional slope of the rocky terrain.
Radial drainage pattern: It is a dome like structure where the streams flow in different directions from a central peak is
called Radial drainage pattern.

• Radial drainage pattern also known as centrifugal pattern is formed by the stream which flows from a central higher
point in all directions.
Note - It is important to note that a combination of different patterns may develop in the same drainage basin.

Drainage systems in India:

The drainage systems of India are mainly controlled by the broad relief features of the subcontinent.

On the basis of origin, two broad drainage systems of India are generally recognised.

• The Himalayan Rivers

• The Peninsular Rivers
The Himalayan river system:

• The major Himalayan Rivers are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
• These rivers are long, and are joined by many large and important tributaries.
River system - A river along with its tributaries may be called a river system.

Gorge - A deep narrow passage with steep rocky sides through which a river may flow is called Gorge.

The Indus River System:

• The river Indus rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar.

• Flowing west, it enters India in the Ladakh.
• It forms a picturesque gorge in this part.
• Several tributaries, the Zaskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza, join it in the Kashmir region.
• The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock.
• The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum join together to enter the Indus near Mithankot in Pakistan.
• Beyond this, the Indus flows southwards eventually reaching the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi.
• The Indus plain has a very gentle slope.
• With a total length of 2900 km, the Indus is one of the longest rivers of the world.
• A little over a third of the Indus basin is located in India Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
and the rest is in Pakistan.
Do you know?

• According to the regulations of the Indus Water Treaty (1960), India can use only 20 per cent of the total water carried
by the Indus river system. This water is used for irrigation in Punjab, Haryana and the southern and the western parts of
Rajasthan.
• Though the Indus is a perennial river, much of its water is lost as it Rows through the Thar Desert. The delta formed by
this river is mostly wasteland, since it is usually flooded with brackish water.
The Ganga River system:

• The headwaters of Ganga are called Bhagirathi.

• It is fed by the Gnagotri Glacier.
• It is joined by Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.
• Ganga emerges from the mountains on to the plains at Haridwar.
• Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak and Kosi are the major tributaries of Ganga.
• Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
• It meets Ganga at Allahabad.
• Gaghra, Gandak and Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya.
• Chambal, Betwa and Son are the major tributaries which come from the peninsular uplands.
• After taking waters from various tributaries, Ganga flows towards east till Farakka (West Bengal).
• The river bifurcates at Farakka.
• The Bhagirathi-Hooghly (a distributary) flows towards south to the Bay of Bengal.
• The mainstream flows southwards into Bangladesh; where it is joined by the Brahmaputra.
• It is known as Meghan; further downstream.
• Finally, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal forming the Sunderban Delta.
• The total length of Ganga is 2500 km.
Headwaters - The tributary streams of a river in the area in which it rises is called headwaters.

Left bank - The bank of a river which is to the left while facing downstream is called Left bank.

Glacier - A huge mass of ice slowly flowing over a land mass, formed for compacted snow, in an area where snow
accumulation exceeds melting and sublimation is called glacier.

Do you know?

• The Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission approved as a ‘flagship programme’ by the
Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and
rejuvenation of the national river, Ganga.
• The Ganga basin forms 25 per cent of the total area of India. It is the longest river in the country. The Ganga and the
Brahmaputra flow in opposite direction to meet together in Bangladesh where they form the largest delta of the world. The
major part of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta lies in Bangladesh.
• The Sundarban Delta derived its name from the Sundari tree, which grows well in marshland. It is the world’s largest
and fastest growing delta. It is also the home of Royal Bengal tiger.
The Brahmaputra River system:

• The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarowar lake very close to the sources of the Indus and the Satluj.
• It is slightly longer than the Indus, and most of its course lies outside India.
• It flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas.
• On reaching the Namcha Barwa (7757 m), it takes a ‘U’ turn and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge.
• Here, it is called the Dihang and it is joined by the Dibang, the Lohit, and many other tributaries to form the
Brahmaputra in Assam.
• In Tibet, the river carries a smaller volume of water and less silt as it is a cold and a dry area.
• In India, it passes through a region of high rainfall.
• Here the river carries a large volume of water and considerable amount of silt.
• The Brahmaputra has a braided channel in its entire length in Assam and forms many riverine islands.
• Every year during the rainy season, the river overflows its banks, causing widespread devastation due to floods in Assam
and Bangladesh.
• Unlike other north Indian rivers, the Brahmaputra is marked by huge deposits of silt on its bed causing the riverbed to
rise.
• The river also shifts its channel frequently.
Braided channel - A river channel in which bars and islands have been deposited and around which the river flows is
called braided channel.

• Braiding occurs when the discharge fluctuates frequently, when the river cannot carry its full load, where the river is
wide and shallow, where banks are easily eroded and where there is a copious bed load.
Do you know?

• Brahmaputra is known as the Tsang Po in Tibet. The river Brahmaputra is known as dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, as
Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
• River Damodar is known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' as it causes widespread destruction of lives, cattle and crops due to
frequent fooding. It joins the Ganga from the right.
The Peninsular Rivers:

• Most of the Peninsular Rivers are seasonal because they depend on rainfall for water.
• These rivers have shorter and shallower courses; compared to the Himalayan rivers.
• Most of the major rivers of the Peninsula flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• These rivers make deltas at their mouths.
• The Narmada and Tapi are the only long rivers, which flow westwards and make estuaries.
• The drainage basins of the peninsular rivers are smaller in size.
Major features of Peninsular rivers:

• The main water divide in Peninsular India is formed by the Western Ghats, which runs from north to south close to the
western coast.
• Most of the major rivers of the Peninsula, such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri flow
eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• These rivers make deltas at their mouths.
• There are numerous small streams flowing west of the Western Ghats.
• The Narmada and the Tapi are the only long rivers, which flow west and make esturies.
• The drainage basins of the peninsular rivers are comparatively smaller in size.
• Almost all the rivers of the Peninsula are in the mature stage.
• They flow through wide valleys.
• Except the Narmada and Tapi which drain west wards into the Arabian Sea, and make esturies the other major streams
discharge their water into the Bay of Bengal make deltas.
Perennial Rivers - The Rivers which flow throughout the year as they get water from the rainfall as well as melting of ice
is called Perennial Rivers.

Distributary - A that river which originates from a main river is called Distributary.

• It is formed near the mouth of river before it falls into the sea.
• It is found in the lower course of the river.
The East flowing rivers -

The Mahanadi:

• The Mahanadi rises in the highlands of Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh.

• It flows through Odisha to reach the Bay of Bengal.
• The length of the river is about 860 km.
• Its drainage basin is shared by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
Godavari Basin:

• The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river.

• It rises from the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• Its length is about 1500 km. It drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Its drainage basin is also the largest among the peninsular rivers.
• The basin covers parts of Maharashtra (about 50 per cent of the basin area lies in Maharashtra), Madhya Pradesh, Odisha
and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Godavari is joined by a number of tributaries, such as the Purna, the Wardha, the Pranhita, the Manjra, the
Wainganga and the Penganga.
• The last three tributaries are very large.
• Because of its length and the area it covers, it is also known as the Dakshin Ganga.
Do you know?

While Godavari is the largest river system in Peninsular India, it is the second largest (next only to the Ganga System) in
India as a whole.

Krishna Basin:

• Rising from a spring near Mahabaleshwar, the Krishna flows for about 1400 km and reaches the Bay of Bengal.
• The Tungabhadra, the Koyana, the Ghatprabha, the Musi and the Bhima are some of its tributaries.
• Its drainage basin is shared by Maharasthra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Kaveri Basin:

• The Kaveri rises in the Brahmagri range of the Western Ghats and it reaches the Bay of Bengal in south of Cuddalore in
Tamil Nadu.
• The total length of the river is about 760 km.
• Its main tributaries are Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati and Kabini.
• Its basin drains parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Do you know?

The river Kaveri makes the second biggest waterfall in India, known as Shivasamudram Falls.

The hydroelectric power generated from the falls is supplied to Mysuru, Bengaluru and the Kolar Gold Field.

Other East-flowing rivers:

• Beside three major rivers there are some smaller rivers flowing towards the east like the Damodar, the Subarnrekha, the
Brahmant, the Penmen, the Pannaiyar and Valgai.
The West flowing rivers -

The Narmada Basin

• The Narmada rises in the Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh.

• It flows towards the west in a rift valley formed due to faulting.
• On its way to the sea, the Narmada creates many picturesque locations.
• The ‘Marble rocks’, near Jabalpur, where the Narmada flows through a deep gorge, and the ‘Dhuadhar falls, where the
river plunges over steep rocks, are some of the notable ones.
• All tributaries of the Narmada are very short and most of these join the main stream at right angles.
• The Narmada basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Do you know?

The Narmada river conservation mission has been undertaken by the government of Madhya Pradesh by a scheme named
Namami Devi Narmade.

The Tapi Basin:

• This river originates from Satpura Plateau in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is the second largest west flowing river of the Peninsular India.
• It also flows in a rift valley parallel to the Narmada but it is much shorter in length.
• Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• The coastal plains between Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea are very narrow.
• Hence, the coastal rivers are short.
• The main west flowing rivers are Sabarmati, Mahi, Bharathpuzha and Periyar
Do you know?

• 71 per cent of the world’s surface is covered with water, but 97 per cent of that is salt water. Of the 3 per cent that is
available as freshwater, three quarters of it is trapped as ice.
• River Sharavati in the state of Karnataka is famous for its Gersoppa (Jog Falls). These falls can be considered as one of
the world's greatest waterfalls in the rainy season But like other peninsular rivers, the Sharavati has very little water in the
dry season.
• Some rivers of the Peninsular Plateau How towards Ganga, e g., Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sind and Son. These rivers rise
in the Vindhya range.
Lakes - A body of water lying on a hollow on the earth's surface and being surrounded by lands is called lakes.

• Most of the lakes are permanent, while some contain water only during the rainy season.
• Lakes are formed by the action of glaciers and ice sheets, by wind, river action and by human activities.
Bars/sandbars - A submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore is called shore.

Following are the major types of lakes found in India:

Ox-bow Lake: A crescent-shaped lake formed when a meander of a river or stream is cut off from the main channel is
called Ox-bow Lake.

• A lake formed when a meandering river is cut off from the mainstream.
• The shape of this lake resembles an ox-bow.
Meander - This is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. The result is a
snaking pattern as the steam meanders back and forth across its axis

Lagoon - A stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef is called Lagoon.

• Lagoon is formed by spits and bars in coastal areas, it is called a lagoon.

• A small freshwater lake near a larger lake or river.
• Chilika lake, Pulicat lake, Kolleru lake, etc. are examples of lagoon.
Glacial Lake - A lake formed by melting of glacier is called a glacial lake.

• Most of the lakes in the Himalayan region are glacial lakes.

Freshwater lakes - A large inland body of fresh water is called freshwater lakes.

• Most of the fresh water lakes are in the Himalayan region. They are of glacial origin.
• The Dal lake, Bhimatal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani are some of the fresh water lakes of India. Wular lake (Jammu &
Kashmir) is the largest freshwater lake in India.
• It was formed by tectonic activity.
Lakes of Tectonic origin:

• Folding and faulting produce hollows in the earth's crust.

• These hollows contain either salt or fresh water lake.
• The Wular lake in Jammu & Kashmin is the result of tectonic activity.
Salt Water Lake: a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly
higher than most lakes is called Salt Water Lake.
• Any lake that has no natural drainage outlet, either as a surface of stream or as a sustain, subsurface flow, will become
saline.
• The Sambhar lake in the desert region of Rajasthan is a salt water lake.
• It is used for producing salt.
Manmade lakes - A pond or lake built for storage of water, usually by the construction of a dam across a river is called
Artificial lake and also called manmade lake.

• In order to harness water for generation of hydel power, to provide irrigation water to crops and to provide drinking
water to urban places, a number of lakes have been constructed e g. Guru Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Nangal Project).
Benefits of a Lake:

• A lake helps in preventing flood by regulating the flow of river.

• During dry seasons, a lake helps to maintain an even flow of the river.
• Lakes can also be used for generating hydel power.
Importance of Rivers:

• Rivers have been of fundamental importance throughout the human history.

• Water from the rivers is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities.
• The river banks have attracted settlers from ancient times, which have now become big cities.
Role of rivers in the economy:

Development of civilization:

• Rivers have played role in the developi ment of civilisation.

• Most of the ancient civilisations like Indus, etc devel oped around the river.
Development for agriculture:

• Rivers and their associated alluvial soils provide the most productive agricultural lands of the country.
Settlement:

• Most of the large cities are located on the banks of a river.

• Not only these rivers provide water supplies but also they provide trans portation.
Industrial development:

• It has flourished along rivers.

• In many industries river water is used as a coolant and for the generation of hydro electricity.
Means of transportation:

• River provide primary channel of inland transportation.

River Pollution - A form of water pollution which refers to the introduction of different chemicals and other pollutants
such as sewage, food waste and farm effluents into rivers is called river pollution.

• The growing domestic and industrial demand for water from rivers naturally affects the quality of water.
• As a result more and more water is being drained out of the rivers reducing their volume.
• A heavy load of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are emptied into the rivers.
• This affects not only the quality of water but-also the self cleaning, capacity of rivers.
• The increasing urbanisation and industrialisation is also responsible for increasing pollution level of many rivers.
National Rivers Conservation Plan (NRCP): This has been initiated by the Government of India for pollution abatement
works in major rivers of the country.

• The activities of Ganga Action plan (GAP) phase-I, initiated in 1985, were declared closed on 31st March 2000.
• The Steering Committee of the National River Conservation Authority reviewed the progress of the GAP and necessary
correction on the basis of lessons learnt and experiences one gained from GAP phase-I.
• These have been applied to the major polluted rivers of the country under the NRCP.
• The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) phase-II, has been merged with the NRCP.
• The expanded NRCP now covers 152 towns located along 27 interstate rivers in 16 states.
• Under this action plan, pollution abatement works are being taken up in 57 towns.
• A total of 215 schemes of pollution abatement have been sanctioned.
• So far, 69 schemes have been completed under this action plan.
• A million litres of sewage is targeted to be intercepted, diverted and treated.
The school has become one of the leading educational institutions of Saran kamishnary.

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