Find out (Page 36)
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1. Which river has the largest basin in India?
The Ganga river has the largest basin in India.
In-Text Questions (Page 38)
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1. However, some of them originate in the central highlands and flow towards the west. Can you identify two such large rivers?
The two large rivers are the Narmada and the Tapi.
In-Text Questions (Page 42)
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1. The main tributaries, which come from the peninsular uplands, are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son. These rise from semi-arid areas, have shorter courses and do not carry much water in them. Find out where and how they ultimately join the Ganga.
• The Chambal and Betwa rivers join the Yamuna river (a major right-bank tributary of the Ganga), which then meets the Ganga at Prayagraj (Allahabad).
• The Son river flows directly northeast from the Amarkantak plateau and joins the Ganga directly on its right bank near Patna in Bihar. -
2. Look at Figure 3.4; can you identify the type of drainage pattern formed by the Ganga river system?
The Ganga river system forms a dendritic drainage pattern (resembling the branches of a tree).
In-Text Questions (Page 44)
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1. Do you remember the name of the world's largest riverine island formed by the Brahmaputra?
Majuli Island in Assam is the world's largest riverine island formed by the Brahmaputra.
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2. The main west flowing rivers are Sabarmati, Mahi, Bharathpuzha and Periyar. Find out the states in which these rivers drain the water.
• Sabarmati: Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Mahi: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat
• Bharathpuzha: Tamil Nadu and Kerala
• Periyar: Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Find out & Activity (Page 46)
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1. The name of the biggest waterfall in India.
Kunchikal Falls (located in the Shimoga district of Karnataka) is considered the highest waterfall in India, while Jog Falls (on the Sharavathi river in Karnataka) is widely known as the largest un-tiered plunge waterfall in India.
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2. Besides these major rivers, there are some smaller rivers flowing towards the east. The Damoder, the Brahmani, the Baitarni and the Subarnrekha are some notable examples. Locate them in your atlas.
• Damodar: Flows through Jharkhand and West Bengal to join the Hooghly river.
• Brahmani: Flows through Odisha into the Bay of Bengal.
• Baitarani: Flows through Odisha into the Bay of Bengal.
• Subarnarekha: Flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha into the Bay of Bengal.
Activities & In-Text Questions (Page 48)
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1. Activity: Make a list of natural and artificial lakes with the help of the atlas.
• Natural Lakes: Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Nainital, Bhimtal, Loktak Lake, Chilika Lake, Pulicat Lake, Kolleru Lake, Sambhar Lake.
• Artificial (Man-made) Lakes: Guru Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Nangal Project), Rana Pratap Sagar, Gandhi Sagar, Nagarjuna Sagar, Nizam Sagar, Hirakud Reservoir. -
2. Make a list of cities in your state which are located on the bank of a river.
Cities in Andhra Pradesh located on riverbanks:
• Vijayawada – on the bank of the Krishna river
• Rajahmundry – on the bank of the Godavari river
• Nellore – on the bank of the Penna river
• Kurnool – on the bank of the Tungabhadra river
• Srikakulam – on the bank of the Nagavali river -
3. Have you heard about such action plans? How does our health get affected by polluted river water? Think about "life of human beings without fresh water". Arrange a debate on this topic in the class.
• Action Plans: Yes, major initiatives include the Ganga Action Plan (GAP), Yamuna Action Plan (YAP), and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) / Namami Gange Programme.
• Impact on Health: Drinking or using polluted water causes water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery, and chronic gastrointestinal and skin disorders.
• Debate points on "Life of human beings without fresh water": Fresh water is the foundation of drinking, hygiene, food production, agriculture, and industry. Without fresh water, life would cease to exist, leading to widespread famine, disease, and global collapse.
EXERCISE (Page 48 - 50)
1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
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(i) Why do some lakes in India have water only during the rainy season?
Answer: (a) They are seasonal lakes.
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(ii) The river Narmada has its source at
Answer: (c) Amarkantak
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(iii) Which one of the following lakes is a salt water lake?
Answer: (a) Sambhar
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(iv) Which one of the following is the longest river of the Peninsular India?
Answer: (c) Godavari
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(v) Which one amongst the following rivers flows through a rift valley?
Answer: (d) Tapi
2. Answer the following questions briefly. (Page 50)
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(i) What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
Any elevated area, such as a mountain or an upland, that separates two drainage basins is known as a water divide. For example, Ambala is located on the water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river systems, and the Western Ghats act as a water divide for Peninsular rivers.
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(ii) Which is the largest river basin in India?
The Ganga river basin is the largest river basin in India.
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(iii) Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
• River Indus originates in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar.
• River Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier as the Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand. -
(iv) Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?
The two headstreams of the Ganga are the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda. They meet at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand to form the Ganga.
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(v) Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt, despite a longer course?
In Tibet, the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) carries a smaller volume of water and less silt because Tibet is a cold, dry, and arid region where the rate of erosion is minimal.
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(vi) Which two Peninsular rivers flow through trough?
The Narmada and the Tapi are the two Peninsular rivers that flow through troughs (rift valleys).
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(vii) State some economic benefits of rivers and lakes.
• Rivers provide water for irrigation, which is crucial for agriculture.
• Used for hydroelectric power generation.
• Serve as inland navigation and transport channels.
• Support aquatic ecosystems and inland fisheries.
• Lakes and rivers moderate local climates, enhance natural beauty, and promote tourism and recreation.
3. Classification of Lakes
Below are given names of a few lakes of India. Group them under two categories natural and created by human beings.
| Natural Lakes | Created by Human Beings |
|---|---|
| (a) Wular | (e) Gobind Sagar |
| (b) Dal | (j) Rana Pratap Sagar |
| (c) Nainital | (k) Nizam Sagar |
| (d) Bhimtal | (m) Nagarjuna Sagar |
| (f) Loktak | (n) Hirakud |
| (g) Barapani | |
| (h) Chilika | |
| (i) Sambhar | |
| (l) Pulicat |
Detailed Questions
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4. Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.
Features Himalayan Rivers Peninsular Rivers Nature of flow Perennial; fed by melting snow and rainfall. Seasonal; dependent mostly on rainfall. Origin Himalayan mountain ranges. Western Ghats and Central Highlands. Course and valleys Long courses, perform intensive erosion, form deep gorges. Shorter and shallower courses with graded valleys. Drainage basin Form very large drainage basins. Form comparatively smaller drainage basins. Examples Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra. Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi. -
5. Compare the east flowing and the west flowing rivers of the Peninsular plateau.
Features East Flowing Rivers West Flowing Rivers Destination Drain into the Bay of Bengal. Drain into the Arabian Sea. Mouth features Form large and fertile deltas at their mouths. Form estuaries instead of deltas. Valley type Flow through broader, graded valleys. Flow through deep, narrow rift valleys (faults). Tributaries Have long and well-developed tributary networks. Have very short tributaries joining at right angles. Examples Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri. Narmada, Tapi, Sabarmati, Mahi. -
6. Why are rivers important for the country's economy?
• Agriculture: Rivers provide vital irrigation water, supporting India's predominantly agrarian economy.
• Hydro-Electric Power: Dam projects on rivers generate clean and renewable electrical energy for domestic and industrial use.
• Inland Navigation: Rivers serve as inexpensive water highways for inland transport and commerce.
• Livelihood: They support freshwater fisheries, sand mining, and related cottage industries.
• Settlement and Tourism: River banks have historically formed fertile alluvial plains that foster urbanization, culture, and tourism.
Map Skills (Page 50)
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(i) On an outline map of India mark and label the following rivers: Ganga, Satluj, Damodar, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, and Brahmaputra.
• Ganga: Originates in Uttarakhand, flows through UP, Bihar, West Bengal into the Bay of Bengal.
• Satluj: Rises in Tibet, flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab into Pakistan.
• Damodar: Flows through the Chota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• Krishna: Originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, flows through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Narmada: Originates in Amarkantak (MP), flows west into the Gulf of Khambhat.
• Tapi: Originates in Betul (MP), flows west parallel to Narmada into the Arabian Sea.
• Mahanadi: Rises in Chhattisgarh, flows through Odisha into the Bay of Bengal.
• Brahmaputra: Enters Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet, flows through Assam into Bangladesh. -
(ii) On an outline map of India mark and label the following lakes: Chilika, Sambhar, Wular, Pulicat, Kolleru.
• Chilika Lake: Coastal Odisha, south of the Mahanadi delta.
• Sambhar Lake: East-central Rajasthan (saltwater lake).
• Wular Lake: Northern Jammu and Kashmir (freshwater lake).
• Pulicat Lake: Border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coast.
• Kolleru Lake: Andhra Pradesh, located between the Godavari and Krishna deltas.
Project/Activity - Crossword Puzzle (Page 52)
Solve this crossword puzzle with the help of given clues.
| Clue | Ans |
|---|---|
| Across: | |
| 1. Nagarjuna Sagar is a river valley project. Name the river? | KRISHNA |
| 2. The longest river of India. | GANGA |
| 3. The river which originates from a place known as Beas Kund. | BEAS |
| 4. The river which rises in the Betul district of MP and flows westwards. | TAPI |
| 5. The river which was known as the "Sorrow" of West Bengal. | DAMODAR |
| 6. The river on which the reservoir for Indira Gandhi Canal has been built. | SATLUJ |
| 7. The river whose source lies near Rohtang Pass. | RAVI |
| 8. The longest river of Peninsular India? | GODAVARI |
| Down: | |
| 9. A tributary of Indus originating from Himachal Pradesh. | CHENAB |
| 10. The river flowing through fault, drains into the Arabian Sea. | NARMADA |
| 11. A river of south India, which receives rainwater both in summer and winter. | KAVERI |
| 12. A river which flows through Ladakh, Gilgit and Pakistan. | INDUS |
| 13. An important river of the Indian desert. | LUNI |
| 14. The river which joins Chenab in Pakistan. | JHELUM |
| 15. A river which rises at Yamunotri glacier. | YAMUNA |
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