Question

What are the major features of the peninsular rivers?

Answer 1

Hint: The peninsular rivers are the rivers that originate from the peninsular plateaus and hills of India. Most of them originate within the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of Bengal. The peninsular rivers are non-perennial rivers with a maximum flow in the rainy season.

Complete answer: Peninsular rivers are seasonal and flow of the rivers depends on rainfall. They are characterized by broad and shallow U-shaped valleys. The Western Ghats creates the main water divide in peninsular rivers. These rivers are considered as old rivers and have comparatively smaller basins and catchment areas. These rivers have shorter and shallower courses. The bedrocks of peninsular rivers are hard, and not easily erodible. The velocity of water in the rivers and the load-carrying capacity of the streams are low since it has low and gentle slopes.
Godavari and Narmada are the main river systems of peninsular rivers. Fixed course and absence of meanders are some characteristics of the Peninsular rivers, though Narmada and Tapi that flows through the rift valley are exceptions. Since the peninsular rivers are mostly rain-fed, during summer there is a significant decrease in the flow of these rivers. During these times, some of their tributaries get dehydrated, and only to be rejuvenated in the monsoon times. The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river which is about 1500 kilometres long. It is from west to east, most of the major peninsular rivers flow, except the rivers Narmada and Tapi.

Note: Rivers of the Peninsular system flows into the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Ganges. They have been flowing in one of the oldest plateaus of the world and have reached the stage of maturity.