Question

Give the salient features of the rivers of the Peninsular India.

Answer 1

1. Non-Perennial Nature: Most rivers in the Peninsular region are seasonal; they depend on the monsoon rains and may dry up during summers.
2. Short and Swift Flow:
   • These rivers have shorter courses compared to the Himalayan rivers.
   • They flow over hard, rocky terrain and have steeper gradients, leading to swift currents.
3. Flow Direction:
   • Most rivers flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal (e.g., Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi).
   • A few flow westwards into the Arabian Sea (e.g., Narmada, Tapi).
4. Limited Erosion and Flooding: Due to hard rocks and gentle slopes in the plains, the rivers have less erosion and do not cause large-scale floods like the Himalayan rivers.
5. Formation of Estuaries, Not Deltas:
   
   • Rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea (e.g., Narmada, Tapi) form estuaries.
   • Those flowing into the Bay of Bengal (e.g., Godavari, Krishna) form deltas.