Chapter 3

NCERT
Class 9
Geography
Solutions
4. Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.
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Question:

Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.

Answer:

Differences between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers are:

Himalayan Rivers:

  • Himalayan rivers originate from glaciers or springs in high mountains.
  • They have water throughout the year because these rivers receive water from rain as well as from melted snow from the lofty mountains.
  • Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra are the three main Himalayan rivers, which originate from the north of the mountain ranges.
  • These rivers cover a long distance from their source to the sea.
  • In their upper courses, these rivers perform an intensive erosional activity and carry huge loads of silt and sand.
  • These rivers form meanders, oxbow lakes, and many other depositional features in their floodplains, in their middle and lower courses.
  • They also have well-developed deltas.

Peninsular Rivers:

  • They originate from plateaus and highlands.
  • Peninsular rivers are seasonal because their flow is dependent on rainfall only. Even the water flow of large rivers reduces during the dry season.
  • Some of the main peninsular rivers are, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
  • Peninsular rivers have shorter and shallower courses.
  • Most of the Peninsular rivers originate in the Western Ghats and flow towards the Bay of Bengal,
  • Some of the peninsular rivers become tributaries of the Himalayan rivers. For example, Betwa and Chambal are the tributaries of the Ganga.

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