DRAINAGE
CLASS IX
SOCIAL STUDIES
NOTES (CH:3)
River System
On the basis of origin, the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers are the two river
systems of India.
Rainfed and snowfed Himalayan rivers have water in them during the winter season,
i.e. they are seasonal.
In the upper course, Himalayan rivers conduct intensive erosion activity.
They bring immense amounts of silt and sand along the lower course.
Himalayan rivers are created by meanders, oxbow lakes and other depositional
features along their course.
The seasonal peninsular rivers are mostly dependent on rainfall.
Much of Peninsular India’s rivers originate from the Western Ghats and drain to the
Bay of Bengal.
The Rivers of The Himalaya
A river can be considered a river system, along with its tributaries.
The Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra are the main Himalayan rivers.
The System of The Indus River
The Indus rises near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet and reaches India in the Jammu and
Kashmir district of Ladakh.
With a total length of 2900 km, the Indus is one of the longest rivers in the world.
In compliance with the Indus Water Treaties in 1960, India and Pakistan distributed
Indus river water.
The River Channel of The Ganga
The river channel of the Ganga forms an imperative part of the drainage class 9 notes. They
are mentioned below.
‘Bhagirathi’ is fed by the Gangotri Glacier.
It is joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.
Ganga encounters Himalayan tributaries such as Ghagra, Gandak and Kosi.
The River Brahmaputra System
The bulk of its course lies outside of India, very close to the sources of Indus and Satluj.
It takes a ‘U’ turn to meet Namcha Barwa.
The tributaries which join the Brahmaputra are Dibang, Lohit and Kenula.
In Assam, the Brahmaputra has a braided channel along its length to create several riverine
islands.
The Brahmaputra is characterised, unlike other northern Indian rivers, by immense deposits
of silt on its bed, allowing the riverbed to rise.
CLASS IX
SOCIAL STUDIES
NOTES (CH:3)
River System
On the basis of origin, the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers are the two river
systems of India.
Rainfed and snowfed Himalayan rivers have water in them during the winter season,
i.e. they are seasonal.
In the upper course, Himalayan rivers conduct intensive erosion activity.
They bring immense amounts of silt and sand along the lower course.
Himalayan rivers are created by meanders, oxbow lakes and other depositional
features along their course.
The seasonal peninsular rivers are mostly dependent on rainfall.
Much of Peninsular India’s rivers originate from the Western Ghats and drain to the
Bay of Bengal.
The Rivers of The Himalaya
A river can be considered a river system, along with its tributaries.
The Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra are the main Himalayan rivers.
The System of The Indus River
The Indus rises near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet and reaches India in the Jammu and
Kashmir district of Ladakh.
With a total length of 2900 km, the Indus is one of the longest rivers in the world.
In compliance with the Indus Water Treaties in 1960, India and Pakistan distributed
Indus river water.
The River Channel of The Ganga
The river channel of the Ganga forms an imperative part of the drainage class 9 notes. They
are mentioned below.
‘Bhagirathi’ is fed by the Gangotri Glacier.
It is joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand.
Ganga encounters Himalayan tributaries such as Ghagra, Gandak and Kosi.
The River Brahmaputra System
The bulk of its course lies outside of India, very close to the sources of Indus and Satluj.
It takes a ‘U’ turn to meet Namcha Barwa.
The tributaries which join the Brahmaputra are Dibang, Lohit and Kenula.
In Assam, the Brahmaputra has a braided channel along its length to create several riverine
islands.
The Brahmaputra is characterised, unlike other northern Indian rivers, by immense deposits
of silt on its bed, allowing the riverbed to rise.
