It is one of the most important rivers in the semi-arid and arid regi...
Luni River
- The Luni or the Salt River (Lonari or Lavanavari in Sanskrit) is named so because its water is brackish below Balotra.
- Luni is the only river basin of any significance in Western Rajasthan, which forms the bulk of the arid zone.
- Luni originates from the western slopes of the Aravalli ranges at an elevation of 772 m near Ajmer flowing in the southwest direction and traversing a course of 511 km in Rajasthan, it finally flows into the Rann of Kachchh (it gets lost in the marsh).
- The peculiarity of this river is that it tends to increase its width rather than deepening the bed because the banks are of soils, which are easily erodible whereas beds are of sand. The floods develop and disappear so rapidly that they have no time to scour the bed. Hence Option 3 is correct
- Most of its tributaries drain the steep northwest of Aravalli hills and join it on the left side.
- Its total catchment area falls in Rajasthan.
- The river ends in Marshland in Rann of Kutch.
It is one of the most important rivers in the semi-arid and arid regi...
Overview of the Luni River
The Luni River is a significant waterway in western India, particularly notable for its behavior and characteristics in semi-arid and arid regions.
Origin and Course
- The Luni River originates from the Aravalli Range, specifically near the town of Arna in Rajasthan.
- It flows southwest through the Thar Desert and eventually disappears in the Rann of Kutch, making it an ephemeral river.
Unique Features
- Unlike many rivers that deepen their beds over time, the Luni River is peculiar in that it tends to widen without deepening.
- This characteristic can be attributed to the alluvial deposits and the sedimentary nature of the terrain through which it flows.
Significance in Arid Regions
- The river plays a crucial role in supporting agriculture and providing water resources in the otherwise arid landscape of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- It helps sustain local ecosystems and communities that rely on its seasonal flow for irrigation and drinking water.
Comparison with Other Rivers
- While rivers like Narmada, Tapti, and Sabarmati have distinct characteristics and flow patterns, none exhibit the same widening tendency as the Luni.
- The Narmada and Tapti are more prominent and flow towards the sea, while the Sabarmati is a more perennial river.
In conclusion, the Luni River's unique feature of widening rather than deepening, along with its origin from the Aravalli range, makes it a distinctive and essential river for the semi-arid regions of western India.
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