Rivers and Drainage System of Karnataka

Drainage Systems

Drainage systems, also known as river systems, are the patterns formed by the streams, rivers, and lakes in a particular drainage basin. They are governed by the topography of the land, whether a particular region is dominated by hard or soft rocks, and the gradient of the land.

Rivers in Karnataka

Karnataka is endowed with many riverine systems broadly classified into two types viz.,

1. The East-flowing large rivers Krishna and Cauvery with their tributaries, and
2. The short, West-flowing rivers.

• The rivers in Karnataka are a source of water for drinking and household purposes. They are integral to agriculture, a source of hydropowerand used for transportation in certain areas. They are also vital for the tourism Industry in the state.
• Many rivers, both east-flowing and west-flowing, are found within the boundaries of Karnataka.
• Most of the rivers originate in the Western Ghats and runs towards the eastern side of the state. These are some of the largest rivers in the state and drain towards the Bay of Bengal. Therefore almost all the major east-flowing rivers are inter-state rivers.
• The rivers in the Western Ghats that generallyflow westward meet the Arabian Sea after a short run varying from 50 kilometres to 300 kilometres.  These rivers are very steep in the upper reaches and fairly steep in the middle reaches. Near the sea, they have relatively flat gradients and a mild flood plain.

CAUVERY RIVER SYSTEM :

• The river Cauvery is an Inter-State river in Southern India. It is one of the major rivers of the Peninsular flowing east and running into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Cauvery rises at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri Range of Hill in the Western Ghats, presently in the Coorg district. It is often called the Dakshina Ganga (the Gangesof the South) and considered one of the sacred rivers of India.
• The tributaries of the Kaveri include:

KRISHNA RIVER SYSTEM :

• The river Krishna is an Inter-State river in Southern India. It is the second largest river in Peninsular India, rises in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1337 m. near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra State.
• It flows across the whole width of the peninsula, from west to east, for a length of about 1400 km, through Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The entire catchment area of Krishna basin is 2,58,948 sq km.

• The principal tributaries of Krishna in Karnataka are Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima and Tungabhadra. All these rivers except the Malaprabha River having their catchment area both in Karnataka and Maharastra.
• Brief description of these tributaries are given below:

GODAVARI RIVER SYSTEM

• The river Godavari rises in the Nasik district of Maharastra about 80km from the shore of Arabian sea, at an elevation of 1067m, after flowing for about 1465km in a general south-easterly direction, through Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh, Godavari falls into the Bay of Bengal above Rajamundry.
• The principal tributaries of Godavari are the Pravara, the Purna, the Manjra, the Pranahita, the Indravathy and the Sabari but Manjra River, having its partial catchment area in the State of Karnataka.

WEST FLOWING RIVER SYSTEM :

• The Western Ghats provides a principal geographical barrier in the path of the Arabian Sea branch of the Southwest monsoon, and is principally responsible for the heavy rainfall over the western coastal belt.
• The rivers in the Western Ghats region generally originate at an elevation ranging from 400 meters to 1,600 meters above the mean sea level, close to the Western Ghats ridge.
• The rivers generally flow westward and meet the Arabian Sea after a short run varying from 50 kms to 300 kms. the rivers are very steep in the upper reaches and fairly steep in the middle reaches. It is only near the sea that they have relatively flat gradients and some sort of flood plain.
• The list of west flowing rivers, their important tributaries and the states through which these are flowing are given in the following table.

PENNAR  RIVER SYSTEM :

The Pennar rises on the hill of Nandi Hills in Chikballapur District of Karnataka state, and runs north and east through the state of Andhra Pradesh to empty into the Bay of Bengal.

PALAR RIVER SYSTEM :

Palar is a river of southern India. It rises in Talagavara village in Kolar, of Karnataka state, and flows 93 kilometres in Karnataka, 33 kilometres in Andhra Pradesh and 222 kilometres in Tamil Nadu before its confluence into the Bay of Bengal at Vayalur about 100 kilometres south of Chennai.

Map of Karnataka River System,

The rivers and drainage system of Karnataka are an important part of the state’s geography. The major rivers are the Kaveri, Bhima, Tungabhadra, Krishna, and Narmada. The minor rivers include the Arani, Arkavati, Cauvery, Ghataprabha, Hemavati, Kannada, Krishna, Lohagad, Malaprabha, Narmada, Purna, Sahyadri, Sharavathi, Tungabhadra, and Yamuna.

The drainage system of Karnataka is divided into five basins: the Kaveri River basin, the Bhima River basin, the Tungabhadra River basin, the Krishna River basin, and the Narmada River basin. The Kaveri River basin is the largest, covering an area of over 80,000 square kilometers. The Bhima River basin is the second largest, covering an area of over 40,000 square kilometers. The Tungabhadra River basin is the third largest, covering an area of over 30,000 square kilometers. The Krishna River basin is the fourth largest, covering an area of over 20,000 square kilometers. The Narmada River basin is the smallest, covering an area of over 10,000 square kilometers.

The drainage pattern of Karnataka is dendritic. This means that the rivers flow in a branching pattern, like the branches of a tree. The drainage density of Karnataka is high, meaning that there are many rivers and streams per unit area. The drainage frequency of Karnataka is also high, meaning that there are many rivers and streams per unit distance. The drainage texture of Karnataka is coarse, meaning that the rivers and streams are wide and shallow. The drainage efficiency of Karnataka is high, meaning that the rivers and streams are able to drain the land effectively.

The rivers and drainage system of Karnataka play an important role in the state’s economy and Environment. The rivers provide water for Irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. The drainage system helps to prevent flooding and erosion. The rivers and drainage system are also home to a variety of Plants and animals.

The rivers and drainage system of Karnataka are a valuable resource that must be protected. The State Government has taken steps to protect the rivers and drainage system, including building Dams and reservoirs, and planting trees along the banks of the rivers. However, more needs to be done to protect this important resource.

One of the biggest threats to the rivers and drainage system of Karnataka is pollution. Industrial and agricultural pollution is a major problem. The state government needs to do more to regulate pollution and to enforce environmental laws.

Another threat to the rivers and drainage system of Karnataka is deforestation. Deforestation leads to Soil erosion, which can clog the rivers and streams. The state government needs to do more to plant trees and to protect forests.

The rivers and drainage system of Karnataka are a vital part of the state’s economy and environment. They must be protected from pollution and deforestation. The state government needs to take action to protect this important resource.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about rivers and drainage systems:

1. What is a river?
   A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river.

2. What is a drainage system?
   A drainage system is a Network of rivers, streams, and other watercourses that collect and carry water away from the land.

3. What are the different types of rivers?
   There are three main types of rivers: perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral. Perennial rivers flow all year round, while intermittent rivers flow only during certain times of the year, and ephemeral rivers flow only after heavy rains.

4. What are the different types of drainage systems?
   There are two main types of drainage systems: dendritic and radial. Dendritic drainage systems are characterized by a branching network of rivers, while radial drainage systems are characterized by a single river that flows from a central point.

5. What are the benefits of rivers?
   Rivers provide many benefits, including water for drinking, irrigation, and industry; transportation; recreation; and flood control.

6. What are the challenges of rivers?
   Rivers also face many challenges, including pollution, flooding, and Climate change.

7. What are some ways to protect rivers?
   There are many ways to protect rivers, including reducing pollution, restoring damaged rivers, and managing river flow.

8. What are some examples of rivers?
   Some examples of rivers include the Nile River, the Amazon River, and the Mississippi River.

9. What are some examples of drainage systems?
   Some examples of drainage systems include the Mississippi River drainage system, the Amazon River drainage system, and the Nile River drainage system.

10. What are some interesting facts about rivers?
    Some interesting facts about rivers include the fact that the Nile River is the longest river in the world, the Amazon River is the largest river in the world by volume, and the Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States.

1. The longest river in Karnataka is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Sharavati

2. The river that flows through the city of Bangalore is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Arkavathi

3. The river that flows through the city of Mysore is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Cauvery

4. The river that flows through the city of Hubli-Dharwad is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Malaprabha

5. The river that flows through the city of Mangalore is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Netravati

6. The river that flows through the city of Belgaum is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Ghataprabha

7. The river that flows through the city of Gulbarga is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Bhima

8. The river that flows through the city of Bellary is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Pennar

9. The river that flows through the city of Raichur is:
   (A) Kaveri
   (B) Tungabhadra
   (C) Krishna
   (D) Tungabhadra

10. The river that flows through the city of Bijapur is:
    (A) Kaveri
    (B) Tungabhadra
    (C) Krishna
    (D) Malaprabha