Question 1

State economic benefits of rivers and lakes.

Accepted Answer

Rivers and lakes are of a great value to human beings. They help to develop hydel power, provide water for irrigation, drinking, industries and they help to develop fisheries. They will enhance natural beauty and help in the development of tourism and provide recreation.

Question 2

Name the east flowing and the west flowing rivers of the peninsular plateau.

Accepted Answer

The West flowing rivers are Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, Sabarmati, Luni, etc. The East flowing Rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, etc.A large number of the South Indian rivers are seasonal as they are miffed. Most of the peninsular rivers flow eastward on the plateau-slope and drain into the Bay of Bengal. They form deltas on their mouths. The West-flowing Rivers of South India1. The Narmada (1,282 km) 2. The Tapti (740 km)3. River Mahi (503 km) 4. The Sabarmati (416 km)5. The Luni (450 km)6. Other RiversOther notable streams which flow westwards are Ulhas, Baitarani, Amba, Sabitri, Vashistha, Sharavathi, Saraswati, etc. They rise from the western flank of the Western Ghats and drains into the Arabian Sea .The East Flowing Rivers of South India1. The Mahanadi (840 km) 2. The Godavari (1,450 km)3. The Krishna (752 km) 4. The Kaveri (800 km)The other east flowing rivers of the South India are Palter, Penner, Ponnaiyar, Vaigai, Chittar and others. These rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Himalayan RiversPeninsular RiversOriginate from HimalayasOriginate in the Western GhatsThese are perennial rivers.These are seasonal rivers.They receive water from rain as well as from melted snow from the lofty mountains.These rivers are dependent upon rainfall. During the dry season, even the large rivers have reduced flow of water

Question 4

Compare the east flowing and the west flowing riven of the peninsular plateau.

Accepted Answer

The east flowing riversThe west flowing rivers(i) The Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri are the major east flowing rivers of peninsular plateau.(i) The Narmada and the Tapi are the major west flowing rivers of the peninsular plateau.(ii) These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal.(ii) These rivers drain into the Arabian Sea.(iii) These rivers form deltas on the east coast.(iii) These rivers do not form any delta. They form estuaries.(iv) These rivers have a developed and large tributary system.(iv) These rivers are devoid of any developed tributary system.

Question 5

Which one is not a tributary of River Ganga?

Accepted Answer

Sutlej is not a tributary of the Ganga. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River. The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, and are mostly diverted to irrigation canals in India.

Question 6

Which is the largest man-made lake in India?

Accepted Answer

Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar located in Sonebhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, is the biggest man-made lake of India. The lake is created by the reservoir of Rihand Dam. Similarly, Dhebar Lake, which is also called as Jaisamand Lake and is located in Udaipur district of Rajasthan, is the second biggest man-made lake.

Question 7

Write the rivers of northern and southern India.

Accepted Answer

North India rivers are Indus and its tributaries Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej. The Ganga and its tributaries namely Yamuna, Gharghara, Gandak, Ram Ganga, Ramganga, Kosi, Mahananda, Chambal. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries like Manas, Subarnasri, Tista, etc.South Indian rivers are the Narmada, Tapi, the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, and Kaveri and their tributaries .Differences :-1. Snow fed or Rain fed: North Indian Rivers are snow-fed river and well as rain-fed. But the South Indian Rivers are only rain-fed.2. Course: North Indian Rivers are subjected to drastic change of courses particularly after the landslides and earthquakes. But the South Indian Rivers rivers flow through stable region and do not change their courses.3. Drain areas: The drain area of North Indian rivers are geological unstable and form meanders. Whereas the drain areas of South Indian Rivers are geologically stable and are devoid of meanders.4. Suitability for Hyder power generation: The Himalayan Rivers are not suitable for the production of hydel power though their sources are in the Himalaya. But the South Indian Rivers are suitable for the production of hydel power as they are swift flowing along rugged terrain.5. Settlement of towns and cities: A large number of big towns and cities are situated on the banks of the rivers of Northern India. But a few towns and cities are situated on the banks of the South Indian Rivers.6. Stages: Most of the North Indian Rivers have distinct three stages in their course of flow – the upper, middle, and lower courses. But most of the South Indian rives have only two stages in their course of flow.7. Navigability: The middle and lower courses of these rivers are navigable for long distance. Most of the South-Indian Rivers are swift flowing and they are navigable only at the lower course.8. Flood and deltaic plains: All the North Indian rivers have developed a vast fertile flood plain. And the river Ganga has formed the largest delta at its mouth. But the South Indian Rivers have made only deltaic plains instead of flood plains.9. Sources: All the North Indian rivers have their sources at much higher altitude especially in the Himalayas. But the South Indian Rivers have their sources at much lower altitudes. 10. River flow: In winter their flow continues and is enhanced by water from the melting snows and glaciers. Whereas the flow of the South Indian rivers reduced to minimum in winter.

Question 8

What are perennial rivers?

Accepted Answer

The rivers that have water throughout the year are called perennial rivers. In India Himalayan Rivers like Ganga and Bhramaputra are perennial rivers. These are both rain fed and formed through melting of the glaciers.

Question 9

The place where a river ends its journey and flows into another water body is called the river's ______.

Accepted Answer

A river mouth is the part of a river that flows into a lake, reservoir or ocean and ends its journey.

Question 10

Indian rivers are divided into ______.

Accepted Answer

Indian rivers are divided into  2  groups.The Himalayan RiversThe three main Himalayan rivers are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. These rivers are long and are joined by many tributaries. A river along with its tributaries form a river system. Let’s study of each river and its tributaries.The Peninsular RiversThe Western Ghats, which runs from north to south close to the western coast, forms the main water divide in Peninsular India. The major rivers of the Peninsula which flow into the Bay of Bengal include the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. The Narmada and the Tapi are the only long rivers which flow west and make estuaries.