Passage Based Questions: Drainage System | Geography Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

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River basins and watersheds are marked by unity. What happens in one part of the basin or watershed directly affects the other parts and the unit as a whole. That is why, they are accepted as the most appropriate micro, meso or macro planning regions. Indian drainage system may be divided on various bases. On the basis of discharge of water (orientations to the sea), it may be grouped into: (i) the Arabian Sea drainage; and (ii) the Bay of Bengal drainage. They are separated from each other through the Delhi ridge, the Aravalis and the Sahyadris 

Q1: What defines river basins and watersheds, and why are they significant in regional planning?
Ans: River basins and watersheds are marked by unity, where actions in one part directly affect the entire basin or watershed. Due to this interconnectedness, they are considered appropriate units for micro, meso, or macro planning regions.

Q2: How is the Indian drainage system classified based on the discharge of water into the seas?
Ans: The Indian drainage system is classified into two categories based on the orientation of water discharge into the seas:

• Arabian Sea drainage, and
• Bay of Bengal drainage.

Q3: What natural features separate the Arabian Sea drainage from the Bay of Bengal drainage in India?
Ans: The Arabian Sea drainage and the Bay of Bengal drainage in India are separated from each other by the Delhi ridge, the Aravali range, and the Sahyadri mountains.

Passage - 2

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On the basis of the size of the watershed, the drainage basins of India are grouped into three categories: (i) Major river basins with more than 20,000 sq. km of catchment area. It includes 14 drainage basins such as the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Krishna, the Tapi, the Narmada, the Mahi, the Pennar, the Sabarmati, the Barak, etc. (Appendix III). (ii) Medium river basins with catchment area between 2,000-20,000 sq. km incorporating 44 river basins such as the Kalindi, the Periyar, the Meghna, etc. (iii) Minor river basins with catchment area of less than 2,000 sq. km include fairly good number of rivers flowing in the area of low rainfall.

Q1: Can you provide some examples of major river basins in India?
Ans: Major river basins in India with more than 20,000 sq. km of catchment area include the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Krishna, the Tapi, the Narmada, the Mahi, the Pennar, the Sabarmati, the Barak, and others.

Q2: How many medium river basins are there in India, and what is the catchment area range for this category?
Ans: There are 44 medium river basins in India, and they have a catchment area between 2,000-20,000 sq. km.

Q3: In what kind of regions are the minor river basins found, and what is their typical catchment area?
Ans: Minor river basins in India are found in areas of low rainfall, and they typically have a catchment area of less than 2,000 sq. km.

Passage - 3

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The Himalayan drainage system has evolved through a long geological history. It mainly includes the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra river basins. Since these are fed both by melting of snow and precipitation, rivers of this system are perennial. These rivers pass through the giant gorges carved out by the erosional activity carried on simultaneously with the uplift of the Himalayas. Besides deep gorges, these rivers also form V-shaped valleys,rapids and waterfalls in their mountainous course.

Q1: Which major rivers are part of the Himalayan drainage system in India?
Ans: The major rivers in the Himalayan drainage system in India include the Ganga, the Indus, and the Brahmaputra river basins.

Q2: What are the sources of water for the rivers in the Himalayan drainage system?
Ans: Rivers in the Himalayan drainage system are fed by both the melting of snow and precipitation, making them perennial.

Q3: What geological features are formed by the rivers in the Himalayan drainage system as they flow through the mountains?
Ans:

• As these rivers pass through the mountains, they carve out giant gorges through erosional activities that occur simultaneously with the uplift of the Himalayas.
• In addition to deep gorges, these rivers also form V-shaped valleys, rapids, and waterfalls in their mountainous course.

Passage - 4

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It is opined that in due course of time Indo– Brahma river was dismembered into three main drainage systems: (i) the Indus and its five tributaries in the western part; (ii) the Ganga and its Himalayan tributaries in the central part; and (iii) the stretch of the Brahmaputra in Assam and its Himalayan tributaries in the eastern part. The dismemberment was probably due to the Pleistocene upheaval in the western Himalayas, including the uplift of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge), which acted as the water divide between the Indus and Ganga drainage systems.

Q1: What were the three main drainage systems into which the Indo-Brahma river is believed to have dismembered over time?
Ans: The Indo-Brahma river is believed to have dismembered into three main drainage systems:

• The Indus and its five tributaries in the western part.
• The Ganga and its Himalayan tributaries in the central part.
• The stretch of the Brahmaputra in Assam and its Himalayan tributaries in the eastern part.

Q2: What is thought to have caused the dismemberment of the Indo-Brahma river into these three drainage systems?
Ans: The dismemberment was likely due to the Pleistocene upheaval in the western Himalayas, which included the uplift of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge). This geological activity acted as the water divide between the Indus and Ganga drainage systems, leading to the separation of the river into these three systems.

Passage - 5

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One of the largest river basins of the world, covering an area of 11,65,000 sq. km (in India it is 321, 289 sq. km and a total length of 2,880 km (in India 1,114 km). The Indus also known as the Sindhu, is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India. It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu (31°°15' N latitude and 81°°40' E longitude) in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in the Kailash Mountain range. In Tibet, it is known as ‘Singi Khamban; or Lion’s mouth. After flowing in the northwest direction between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, it passes through Ladakh and Baltistan. It cuts across the Ladakh range, forming a spectacular gorge near Gilgit in Jammu and Kashmir. It enters into Pakistan near Chilas in the Dardistan region. Find out the area known as Dardistan.

Q1: What is the total area covered by the Indus River basin, and how much of this area is in India?
Ans: The Indus River basin covers a total area of 11,65,000 sq. km, with 321,289 sq. km of this area located in India.

Q2: Where does the Indus River originate, and what is it known as in Tibet?
Ans:

• The Indus River originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in the Kailash Mountain range.
• In Tibet, it is known as 'Singi Khamban' or Lion's mouth.

Q3: Describe the path of the Indus River through India and its entry into Pakistan.
Ans:

• After flowing in a northwest direction between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, the Indus River passes through Ladakh and Baltistan. It forms a spectacular gorge near Gilgit in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Indus River enters Pakistan near Chilas in the Dardistan region.

Passage - 6

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The Yamuna, the western most and the longest tributary of the Ganga, has its source in the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad). It is joined by the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken on its right bank which originates from the Peninsular plateau while the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, the Varuna, etc. join it on its left bank. Much of its water feeds the western and eastern Yamuna and the Agra canals for irrigation purposes.

Q1: What is the source of the Yamuna River, and where does it join the Ganga?
Ans: The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri glacier on the western slopes of the Banderpunch range (6,316 m). It joins the Ganga River at Prayag (Allahabad).

Q2: Which rivers are the main tributaries of the Yamuna, and from where do they originate?
Ans:

• The main tributaries of the Yamuna include the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa, and the Ken on its right bank, originating from the Peninsular plateau.
• On its left bank, the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, and the Varuna, among others, join the Yamuna.

Q3: How is the water from the Yamuna River utilized for irrigation purposes?
Ans: Much of the Yamuna's water is used for irrigation through the western and eastern Yamuna canals as well as the Agra canal.

Passage - 7

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The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world, has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake. From here, it traverses eastward longitudinally for a distance of nearly 1,200 km in a dry and flat region of southern Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo, which means ‘the purifier.’ The Rango Tsangpo is the major right bank tributary of this river in Tibet. It emerges as a turbulent and dynamic river after carving out a deep gorge in the Central Himalayas near Namcha Barwa (7,755 m). The river emerges from the foothills under the name of Siang or Dihang.

Q1: Where does the Brahmaputra River originate, and what is it called in its upper reaches in Tibet?
Ans: The Brahmaputra River originates from the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake. In its upper reaches in Tibet, it is known as the Tsangpo, which means 'the purifier.'

Q2: What is the major right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet?
Ans: The major right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Tibet is the Rango Tsangpo.

Q3: How does the Brahmaputra River become turbulent and dynamic, and what name does it take after emerging from the Central Himalayas?
Ans: The Brahmaputra River becomes turbulent and dynamic after carving out a deep gorge in the Central Himalayas near Namcha Barwa (7,755 m). After emerging from the foothills, it is known as Siang or Dihang.

Passage - 8

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The Western Ghats running close to the western coast act as the water divide between the major Peninsular rivers, discharging their water in the Bay of Bengal and as small rivulets joining the Arabian Sea. Most of the major Peninsular rivers except Narmada and Tapi flow from west to east. The Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa, the Ken, the Son, originating in the northern part of the Peninsula belong to the Ganga river system. The other major river systems of the Peninsular drainage are – the Mahanadi the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. Peninsular rivers are characterised by fixed course, absence of meanders and nonperennial flow of water.

Q1: Which Peninsular rivers flow from west to east, and which ones belong to the Ganga river system?
Ans: Most of the major Peninsular rivers, except Narmada and Tapi, flow from west to east. The Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa, the Ken, and the Son, originating in the northern part of the Peninsula, belong to the Ganga river system.

Q2: What are the other major river systems in the Peninsular drainage besides the Ganga system?
Ans: The other major river systems of the Peninsular drainage are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, and the Kaveri.

Q3: How are Peninsular rivers characterized in terms of their course and flow?
Ans: Peninsular rivers are characterized by a fixed course, absence of meanders, and non-perennial flow of water.

Passage - 9

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Luni is the largest river system of Rajasthan, west of Aravali. It originates near Pushkar in two branches, i.e. the Saraswati and the Sabarmati, which join with each other at Govindgarh. From here, the river comes out of Aravali and is known as Luni. It flows towards the west till Telwara and then takes a southwest direction to join the Rann of Kuchchh. The entire river system is ephemeral.

Q1: What is the largest river system of Rajasthan located west of the Aravali range?
Ans: Luni is the largest river system of Rajasthan located west of the Aravali range.

Q2: Where does the Luni River originate, and what are its initial branches called?
Ans: The Luni River originates near Pushkar in two branches, known as the Saraswati and the Sabarmati. These branches join with each other at Govindgarh.

Q3: What is the name of the river when it emerges from the Aravali range, and in which direction does it flow?
Ans: When the river comes out of the Aravali range, it is known as Luni. It flows towards the west till Telwara and then takes a southwest direction to join the Rann of Kuchchh.