Difference Between Himalayan
Peninsular Drainage System:
and
❖ Himalayan drainage system
1. The rivers originating from the
Himalayas and their tributaries are
included in this system.
2. The rivers of this drainage system
receive water from both glaciers and
rain, so these rivers are perennial.
3. The rivers of this system are long.
4. These rivers are in their youth due to
flowing from newly folded mountainous
region.
5. The erosive capacity of these rivers is
high.
6. These rivers form 'U' shaped valleys,
gorges, canyons and water falls.
7. The amount of sediments in these rivers
is high.
8. The basin of these rivers is large but a
small number of rivers fall into the
ocean.
9. The runoff bed of these rivers is
composed of alluvial sediments.
10. These rivers discharge while flowing
through the plains.
11. This system includes both preceding
and subsequent rivers.
12. The rivers of this system flow through
deep valleys, due to which their
hydropower generation capacity is high,
but their full potential has not been
achieved.
13. Due to its wide plain area, it is more
suitable for rivers.
❖ Peninsular drainage system
1. This
system
includes
rivers
originating from the peninsular
plateau region and their tributaries.
2. The rivers of this drainage system
receive water only from rain, so these
rivers are seasonal.
3. The rivers of this system are
comparatively small.
4. These rivers are in old age due to
flowing through the peninsular
plateau region.
5. These rivers form wide valleys.
6. The amount of sediments in these
rivers is low.
7. The basin of these rivers is small but a
large number of rivers fall into the
ocean.
8. The drainage bed of these rivers is
made of hard rocks.
9. Rivers cannot flow in the plateau
region and only flow in the delta
region.
10.
Only the following rivers are
included in this system.
11.
Due to the limited amount of
water and flowing through deep
valleys, the hydropower generation
capacity of these rivers is low, but
their full potential has been
developed.
12.
These rivers are not suitable for
sailing while flowing through the
plateau region and they are useful for
sailing only in the delta region.
Himalayan drainage system
❖ The Himalayan drainage system
includes
the
erstwhile
and
subsequent rivers. Which is eternal
and long. Being young, these rivers
form deep valleys, gorges, canyons,
etc. While flowing in a wide plain,
these rivers run in an immersion
route and are suitable for sailing.
❖ The Himalayan drainage system
consists of three major river
systems.
1. Indus drainage system
2. drainage system
3. Brahmaputra drainage system
1. Indus drainage system
❖ Indus and its tributaries form this
drainage system. In India, this
drainage system is widespread in
Ladakh, Jammu Kashmir, Punjab
and Himachal Pradesh.
❖ The total length of the Indus river
is 2880 km. (Note: In some places
its length is also mentioned as 3180
km.) Its length in India is 1114 km.
❖ The total catchment area of the
Indus river is 11.65 lakh sq km. and
its catchment area in India is 3.21
lakh sq km.
❖ The Indus River originates from a
glacier located near 'Bokhar Chu' in
the Kailash mountain region near
Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. In Tibet
the Indus river is known as 'Singi
Khamban'. This river enters India
from a place called Damchok.
❖ Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is
situated on the banks of this river.
The Indus River flows between the
Ladakh and Zaskar ranges. It
enters Pakistan near a place called
Chillas. This river forms Bunji Burj
near Nanga Parbat. And enters the
plains from a place called Attuck in
Pakistan.
❖ The major tributaries on the right
side of the Indus are Shyok, Hunza,
Gilgit, Swat, Kabul, Gomal and on
the left are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi,
Beas, Sutlej (Panjnad) and Zaskar.
The Panjnad joins the Indus River
near Mithankot in Pakistan, and
the Indus River flows into the
Arabian Sea forming a delta near
Karachi.
Main tributaries of Indus –
(i). Jhelum (ancient name Vivasta):
(Length - 725 km)
❖ The river originates from the Berinag
Falls located in the Paden region of the Pir
Panjal mountain range in the state of
Jammu and Kashmir. This river forms the
Wular Lake, which is the largest
freshwater lake in India. Srinagar is on the
banks of this river. Kishanganga (Neelam)
is the major tributary of the Jhelum River.
❖ Jhelum river is navigable from Anantnag
to Baramulla in Kashmir. This river joins
the Chenab River in Jhang district of
Punjab in Pakistan. The Jhelum River
flows through the India-Pakistan border
region. A navigation project named Tulbul
is proposed on this river.
(ii). Chenab (Ancient name- Askini)
(Length - 1180 km.) or (960 m.)
❖ The origin of this river is the meeting of
the Chandra and Bhaga streams coming
out near the Baralachha pass in Himachal
Pradesh. Chandra, Bhaga rivers meet at a
place called Tandi in Lahaul Spiti district
of Himachal Pradesh.
❖ This river passes through the states of
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and
Kashmir and meets the Indus River at a
place called Mithankot in Pakistan, and
the Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej rivers meet the
Chenab River from Pakistan. The Chenab
River is the largest tributary of the Indus
River.
❖ Dulhasti, Salal and Baglihar projects are
located on the Chenab river in the state of
Jammu and Kashmir.
(iii). Ravi (ancient name - Purushni and
Iravati) (Length - 725 km.)
❖ The river originates from Bara Bhangal
village in Kangra district near Rohtang
Pass in Himachal Pradesh. This river
passes through Chamba valley.
❖ Flowing through the Indo-Pakistan
border region through the states of
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Punjab, it joins the Chenab River in Jhang
district of Punjab in Pakistan (near
Ahmedpur Siyal city).
❖ The city of Lahore in Pakistan is situated
on the banks of the Ravi River. Chamera
Dam is situated on this river in Himachal
Pradesh and Thein or Rajit Sagar Dam is
situated on this river in Punjab. The
Shahpurkandi project is being developed
on the Ravi river in Punjab.
(iv). Beas River (Ancient name - Bipasha)
(Length - 470 km.)
❖ The origin of this river is from Vyas Kund
near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
This river passes through the Kullu valley.
❖ This river meets Sutlej river at a place
called 'Harike' in Punjab. The 'Pong' dam
is situated on this river in Kangra district
of Himachal Pradesh, from which the
Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir is
formed.
(v). Sutlej River (Ancient name Shatudri) (Length - 1450 km.)
❖ The origin of this river is from 'Rakshas
Tal' in Tibet. In Tibet it is called 'Logchen
Khumbaav'. The river enters India
through the Shipkila Pass.
❖ Spiti is the major tributary of Sutlej in
Himachal Pradesh and the Nathpa Jhakri
Dam is located. The Bhakra (Himachal
Pradesh)-Nangal (Punjab) dam is situated
on this river in the border area of Punjab
and Himachal Pradesh. Govind Sagar
Reservoir is created in Himachal Pradesh
from Bhakra Dam.
❖ The Beas river meets the Sutlej river at a
place called Harike in Punjab; And the
Indira Gandhi canal is formed.
❖ Ludhiana and Ferozepur cities of Punjab
are situated on the banks of this river. The
Sutlej River flows in the India-Pakistan
border region, and the Sutlej River meets
the Chenab River near the town of Uchha
Sharif in Bahawalpur District in the
Punjab state of Pakistan. Sutlej river is the
longest river out of Panjnad and its length
is 1050 km in India.