The Peninsular River System
The Peninsular river system happens to be older than the Himalayan one, and it becomes evident from the largely graded and broad, shallow valleys beside the rivers’ maturity. The Western Ghats that run closer to the western coast work as the water diviner between the chief Peninsular Rivers. They discharge their water as little rivulets and the Bay of Bengal that joins the Arabian Sea. Most of the Peninsular rivers that exclude the Tapi and the Narmada flow to the east from the west.
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The Sind, the Ken, the Chambal, the Son, and the Betwa originate from the northern portion of the Peninsula, and they belong to the river system “Ganga.” The other chief river systems that form a part of the peninsular drainage are the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Kaveri, and the Krishna. Peninsular rivers can be easily recognized by their fixed course, non-perennial water flow, and the shortage of meanders.
Chief Rivers of Peninsular India
The chief Peninsular Indian rivers are the Krishna, the Godavari, the Tapti, the Narmada, the Mahanadi, the Cauvery, and the Damodar. Most of these rivers start from the Western Ghats, and they drain a huge part of South and Central India. Though the Peninsular rivers tend to be seasonal, they carry huge volumes of water that the rainfall feeds. The Godavari, the Krishna, the Cauvery, and the Mahanadi flow eastwards for flowing into the Bay of Bengal, whereas the Narmada and the Tapi flow westwards before entering the Arabian Sea. A detailed description of the Peninsular Rivers and their important features-
The Godavari
This is considered the largest among all the peninsular river systems. And so, it is also recognized as the “Dakshin Ganga.” This river rises in Nashik before it gets mixed with the water of the Bay of Bengal. The tributaries of the Godavari cross some states, like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. Its principal tributaries are the Indravati, the Penganga, the Manjra, and the Piranha.
This river remains subjected to serious floods, and it creates a picturesque gorge. This river gets divided into many branches, and so, it becomes a huge delta.
Important features of the Godavari
Before the Godavari reaches the Eastern Ghats, it gets conical in Andhra Pradesh and creates a gorge close to Pelawaram. When it emerges from it, it does spread. After reaching close to Rajamundari, this river turns 2750 meters wide.
The Mahanadi
The Mahanadi rises in Sihawa of Chattisgarh, and it runs through the state of Orissa before mixing with the Bay of Bengal. The catchment area of the Mahanadi stretches over 1.42 lakh square kilometers and is 851 kilometers long. 53% of this river’s drainage basic lies in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, and only 47% lies in Orissa.
Features of the Mahanadi
On the river Mahanadi, the Hirakud dam has been built. The chief canals are known as the Tendula Canal, the Mahanadi Canal, and the Kurang Canal.
The Krishna
The Krishna is considered the 2nd largest east-flowing river. This peninsular river rises close to Mahabaleshwar in Sahyadri. The total length of the Krishna is 1401 kilometers. Its chief tributaries are the Bhima, the Tungabhadra, and the Koyna.
Features of the Krishna
The Krishna River is considered the holy river, and it flows to Andhra Pradesh from Maharashtra and includes Telangana and Karnataka. People use the water of this river to cultivate crops, like paddy, sugarcane, maize, fruits, etc. Again, they find the water of this river pretty tasty.
The Cauvery (Kaveri)
The Cauvery rises in the Brahmagiri hills of the Kogadu district. Its length is 800 kilometers, and this river drains a part of 81,155 square kilometers. The upper catchment place of this river receives rainfall at the time of the southwest monsoon season, that is, summer, whereas the lower part receives rainfall during the winter season which is the northeast monsoon season. This river does carry water throughout the year as it has relatively lesser fluctuation compared to various other Peninsular Rivers. The chief tributaries of the Cauvery are the Bhavani, the Amravati, and the Kabini.
Important features of the Cauvery
Several dams have been built on the Cauvery to control floods, and a couple of islands, like Shirirangpattanam and Sivasamudram, surround this river. You will find several waterfalls too down Sivasamudram, and these waterfalls help to generate power. Additionally, they aid in boosting the economic development of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The Tapi
The Tapi is another vital river that flows westward. This river originates in Madhya Pradesh, and it drains a total area of 65,154 square kilometers. The Tapi is 724 kilometers long. Its 79% of the basin is situated in Maharashtra, and 15% lies in Madhya Pradesh. And the rest, 6%, lies in Gujarat.
Important features of the Tapi
The basin of the Tapi River lies commonly in eastern and northern districts in the state of Maharashtra, like Akola, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Nandurbar, Dhule, Nashik, and Malegaon districts. It has got many tributaries on its couple of banks.
The Narmada
The Narmada originates from the Amarkantak plateau and reaches a height of nearly 1,057 kilometers. This flows in a rift valley and creates a picturesque gorge. When it flows a distance of nearly 1,312 kilometers, it does mix with the Arabian Sea to form a broad estuary of 27 km long. The catchment area of the Narmada is nearly 98,796 square kilometers. On the Narmada River, you will find the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project.
Important features of the Narmada
The Narmada River is the fifth-longest Indian river, and it forms the customary boundary between South India and North India. Again, it has got a structural origin too.
The Luni
This is the biggest river system in the state of Rajasthan. This river originates close to Pushkar in a couple of branches, the Sabarmati and the Saraswati. Both these rivers mingle at Govindgarh. The River Luni flows westwards till Telwara. However, it flows in the southwest direction, where it joins the Rann of Kuchchh.
Important features of Luni
Luni is popular as a seasonal river, and it dries up during the summer season. The chief tributaries of the Luni are the Sukri, Jawai, Jojari, and Bandi rivers.
Evolution of Peninsular Drainage System
Previously, three chief geological events have contributed to shaping the current drainage systems that comprise Peninsular India.
During the previous tertiary era, the Peninsula’s western flank subsidence was responsible for its immersion below the sea. Commonly, it has given rise to the river’s symmetrical plan on either side.
The Tapi and the Narmada flow in channel faults and fill the cracks with their accumulated components. And so, there is a shortage of deltaic and alluvial deposits in both these rivers.
The little leaning of the Peninsular block while flowing in the south-eastern direction from the northwest direction is also responsible for the evolution of the Peninsular drainage system.
Interesting Facts About the Peninsular Rivers
The Peninsular rivers make deltas towards their mouths.
Several small streams flow westwards of the Western Ghats.
The Tapi and the Narmada are considered the only long Peninsular Rivers, and they flow westwards for making estuaries.
The Peninsular Rivers’ drainage basics are relatively smaller in size in comparison to the Himalayan Rivers.
Peninsular rivers are older compared to the Himalayan rivers.
Commonly, the Peninsular drainage is concordant except for some rivers in the upper region of the Peninsula.
Peninsular Rivers are non-perennial rivers, and they have maximum discharge during the rainy season.
The Peninsular Rivers get symbolized by shallow and broad valleys.
These rivers have reached their mature stage and have nearly touched their base level too.
FAQs on Peninsular River System
1. What are the main characteristics that define the Peninsular River System?
The Peninsular River System is defined by several distinct features that set it apart from the Himalayan rivers. The key characteristics are:
- Origin: They originate in the Peninsular Plateau and central highlands, making them much older rivers.
- Water Source: These rivers are seasonal or non-perennial as their flow is dependent on monsoon rainfall, not snowmelt.
- River Course: They have shorter, shallower, and well-defined courses as they flow through hard, resistant rocky terrain.
- Basins: The river basins and catchment areas are relatively smaller compared to the Himalayan rivers.
- Erosional Activity: Due to gentle slopes and hard bedrock, their velocity and erosional power are significantly lower.
2. How does the Peninsular River System differ from the Himalayan River System?
The primary differences between the Peninsular and Himalayan river systems are based on their origin, nature, and course:
- Source of Water: Peninsular rivers are rain-fed and seasonal, whereas Himalayan rivers are perennial, fed by both rain and melting glaciers.
- Age and Geology: Peninsular rivers are much older and flow through a stable, hard-rock plateau, resulting in graded profiles. Himalayan rivers are young and flow through soft, sedimentary rocks, causing intense erosion and V-shaped valleys.
- Course Length: Peninsular rivers have shorter and more fixed courses. Himalayan rivers have very long, meandering courses that are still evolving.
- Drainage Basin: The basins of Peninsular rivers like the Godavari and Krishna are smaller than the vast basins of Himalayan rivers like the Ganga and Indus.
- Features Formed: Most east-flowing Peninsular rivers form deltas, while west-flowing ones form estuaries. Himalayan rivers form large deltas, meanders, and ox-bow lakes.
3. Which is the largest river in the Peninsular system and what are its key features?
The Godavari is the largest river in the Peninsular system. Due to its size and extent, it is often referred to as the 'Dakshin Ganga' (Ganges of the South). Its key features are:
- Origin: It originates from the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Trimbakeshwar region of Nashik district, Maharashtra.
- Length: It flows for about 1,500 kilometres, making it the longest river in Peninsular India.
- Drainage Basin: Its basin is the largest among the Peninsular rivers, covering parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Tributaries: Major tributaries include the Purna, Wardha, Pranhita, Manjra, Wainganga, and Penganga.
- Mouth: It flows eastwards to drain into the Bay of Bengal, forming a large delta.
4. What are the major east-flowing and west-flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau?
The Peninsular rivers are primarily classified based on their direction of flow, with the Western Ghats acting as the main water divide.
East-flowing Rivers (draining into the Bay of Bengal):
- The Mahanadi
- The Godavari
- The Krishna
- The Kaveri
- The Narmada
- The Tapi (or Tapti)
5. Why do most major Peninsular rivers flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal?
The eastward flow of major Peninsular rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri is primarily due to the geological tilt of the Peninsular plateau. The plateau is tilted from west to east, meaning its western edge (where the Western Ghats are) is at a higher elevation than its eastern coast. Consequently, rivers originating in the Western Ghats or central highlands naturally follow this gradient, flowing eastwards across the plateau to eventually drain into the Bay of Bengal.
6. If the Peninsular plateau slopes east, why do the Narmada and Tapi rivers flow west?
The Narmada and Tapi are unique exceptions to the general slope of the plateau. They flow westwards because they do not follow the topographical gradient but instead flow through rift valleys. These are long, narrow valleys created by the faulting or cracking of the Earth's crust. The block of land between two faults sank, creating a trough through which these rivers flow from east to west before draining into the Arabian Sea.
7. What is the economic importance of the Peninsular rivers in India?
Despite being seasonal, Peninsular rivers have immense economic importance for the region. Their primary contributions include:
- Hydroelectric Power: The hard, rocky terrain and steep gradients in certain sections are ideal for constructing dams to generate hydroelectricity. Important projects include the Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada and the Nagarjuna Sagar on the Krishna.
- Irrigation: They are a vital source of water for agriculture. Canals from dams and reservoirs support farming, especially for water-intensive crops in otherwise dry regions.
- Water Supply: These rivers provide water for domestic and industrial use in many major cities and industrial hubs across South and Central India.
8. How does the seasonal nature of Peninsular rivers impact life and agriculture in the region?
The seasonal flow of Peninsular rivers creates a significant challenge. During the monsoon, they can cause floods, while in the dry season (summer), their flow can reduce to a trickle, leading to water scarcity. This variability directly impacts agriculture, making it heavily reliant on the success of the monsoon or on large-scale irrigation projects. It also limits the potential for year-round inland navigation and necessitates careful water management through dams and reservoirs to ensure a stable supply for cities and industries.
9. What is the difference between a delta and an estuary, and which do Peninsular rivers form?
A delta is a fertile, fan-shaped landform created by the deposition of sediments carried by a river as it enters a slower-moving body of water like a sea. The major east-flowing Peninsular rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna form large deltas at their mouths in the Bay of Bengal. An estuary is a deep, funnel-shaped tidal mouth of a river where freshwater mixes with saltwater. They are formed where rivers flow swiftly into the sea, washing away sediments. The west-flowing Peninsular rivers, the Narmada and Tapi, form estuaries as they enter the Arabian Sea through their rift valleys.
