Peninsula Drainage System

 Introduction

Peninsula rivers are older than the Himalayan rivers. They are non-perennial rivers with a maximum volume of water in the rainy season.

The peninsular rivers have reached mature stage and have almost reached their base level. The vertical down cutting is absent that are characterized by broad and shallow valleys.

The riverbanks are characterized by the gentle slopes.

he main water divide of peninsular rivers is formed by the Western Ghats extending from north to south close to the western coast.

The velocity of water in the rivers and the carrying capacity of the sediments of the streams is low due to low gradient.

The major rivers of the peninsula such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the

Cauvery flow eastwards and drains into the Bay of Bengal.

These rivers make famous deltas at their mouths. But the rivers flowing westwards such as Narmada and Tapi drains in the Arabian Sea forms estuaries in place of deltas

There are rivers form superimposed and rejuvenated drainage

Rivers that drain into Bay of Bengal: The Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Cauvery and other smaller rivers such as Vaigai, etc,. drains south-east into the Bay of Bengal

Rivers draining into Arabian Sea: The Narmada, the Tapi, the Mahi flowing west as well as several small streams originating from the Western Ghats drains into the Arabian Sea

Rivers that drain into the Ganges: Tributaries of the Ganga and the Yamuna such as the

Chambal, the Betwa, the Ken, the Son and the Damodar.

Godavari River

The Godavari is the largest river of the Peninsular India and is also called as Dakshina Ganga.

The Godavari basin passes through the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha including parts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry (Yanam).

The basin is surrounded by Satmala hills, the Ajanta range and the Mahadeo hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west.

SOURCE- The Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. Tributaries of Godavari River — The left bank tributaries are more in number and larger in size than the right bank tributaries

Left Bank Tributaries: Dharna, Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha, Pranahita [conveying the combined waters of Penganga, the Wardha and Wainganga], Pench, Sabari, Indravati etc. Right Bank Tributaries: Pravara, Manjra, Maner etc

 

Krishna River

The Krishna is the second largest east flowing river of the

Peninsula. The Krishna Basin passes through Andhra

Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

It is surrounded by Balaghat range on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west.

The Krishna River rises from the Western Ghats. The Krishna forms a large delta. Right Bank Tributary: the Ghatprabha, the Malprabha and the Tungabhadra

Left Bank Tributary: the Bhima, the Musi and the Munneru. Hyderabad is located on the Musi river.

Cauvery River

The Cauvery River rises from the Brahmagiri range of Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka. The Cauvery basin passes through states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry.

It is sourrounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and the south and by Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north. The basin can be divided into three parts — the Western Ghats, the Plateau of Mysore and the Delta.

The delta area is the most fertile part in the basin. The Cauvery is famous for its irrigation and power production potential already stands harnessed.

The river flows eastwards and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Tributaries- Left Bank: the

Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati.

Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati joins from right.