Question

Which one of the following rivers flow in a rift valley?
A) Kaveri
B) Kosi
C) Krishna
D) Narmada

Answer 1

Hint: A rift valley is a linear lowland formed by the activity of a geologic rift between numerous highlands or mountain ranges. Rifts are generated when the lithosphere is pulled apart by extensional tectonics. Erosion factors may worsen the linear depression in the future.

Complete answer:
The Narmada River, also known as the Reva and formerly as Narbada or Nerbudda, is India's fifth longest river, the largest west-flowing river, and the largest flowing river in Madhya Pradesh. This river flows through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Kaveri: This option is incorrect because the Kaveri River begins at Talakaveri in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, at an elevation of about 1341 metres, and flows for about 800 kilometres before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It does not flow in a rift valley.
B) Kosi: This option is incorrect because the Kosi River does not flow in the rift valley. The Kosi, sometimes known as the Koshi, is a trans-border river that runs through Tibet, Nepal, and India. It drains Tibet's northern Himalayan slopes and Nepal's southern Himalayan slopes.
C) Krishna: The Krishna is the second largest peninsular river, flowing eastward. This river flows into the Bay of Bengal from Sahyadri near Mahabaleshwar. A rift valley is not where Krishna flows. This option is incorrect because it does not flow through the rift valley.
D) Narmada: This is the correct option. Along with the Tapti River and the Mahi River, the Narmada is one of only three large rivers in peninsular India that flow from east to west (longest west flowing river). It is one of India's rivers that flows west between the Satpura and Vindhya hills in a rift valley.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (D) i.e, Narmada.

Note: Damodar River in Chota Nagpur Plateau and Tapti are two other rivers that flow through the rift valley. The Tapti and Mahi rivers both run through rift valleys, but between separate mountain ranges. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra before crossing the Maharashtra-Gujarat border and ending in Gujarat.