NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography (India : Physical Environment) Chapter 3 Drainage System

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 11th

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

Class : 11th

Subject : Geography

Chapter : 3

Chapter Name : Drainage System

Q1 Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the following rivers was known as the ‘Sorrow of Bengal’?

(a) The Gandak

(b) The Son

(c) The Kosi

(d) The Damodar

(ii) Which one of the following rivers has the largest river basin in India?

(a) The Indus

(b) The Brahmaputra

(c) The Ganga

(d) The Krishna

(iii) Which one of the following rivers is not included in ‘Panchnad’?

(a) The Ravi

(b) The Chenab

(c) The Indus

(d) The Jhelum

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

(iv) Which one of the following rivers flows in a rift valley?

(a) The Son

(b) The Narmada

(c) The Yamuna

(d) The Luni

(v) Which one of the following is the place of confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi?

(a) Vishnu Prayag

(b) Rudra Prayag

(c) Karan Prayag

(d) Deva Prayag

(i) (d) The Damodar

(ii) (c) The Ganga

(iii) (c) The Indus

(iv) (b) The Narmada

(v) (d) Deva Prayag

Q2 State the differences between the following.

(i) River Basin and Watershed

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

(ii) Dendritic and Trellis drainage pattern

(iii) Radial and Centripetal drainage pattern

(iv) Delta and Estuary

(i)

River Basin Watershed

These are the catchments of large rivers. These are catchments of rills and small
rivulets.

They have large areas They have small areas

(ii)

Dendritic Drainage Patterns Trellis Drainage Patterns

They resemble the branches of trees which is As a river’s primary tributaries flow parallel to
called dendritic. each other and secondary tributaries join the
river at right angles, this pattern is Trellis.

Example: Northern Plain drainage pattern Example: Himalayan mountain drainage
pattern

(iii)

Radial Drainage Pattern Centripetal Drainage Pattern

As the rivers originate from a hill and start As the river discharge their waters from all
flowing in all directions, it is called drainage directions in a depression or lake, it is
pattern. centripetal pattern.

E.g Rivers originating from Amarkantak Eg. Rajasthan’s Sambhar lake
range.

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

(iv)

Delta Estuary

It is a triangular landmass that gets formed at It is in the shape of a funnel that is formed at
a river’s mouth. the mouth of river.

These are fertile and support agriculture. They support inland transportation & provide
fishing ground

Q3 Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What are the socio-economic advantages of inter-linking of rivers in India?

(ii) Write three characteristics of the Peninsular river.

(i) The inter-linking of rivers has following socio-economic advantages:

● The problems of drought and floods will be solved as water in excess amount can be
transferred to those regions that don’t have enough water.
● It provides opportunities for fisheries and hydroelectricity.
● It helps to increase productivity and improve irrigation facilities.
● Economic conditions of farmers will start improving.
● The materials could be transported to different regions of the country easily.

(ii) The characteristics are:

● They originate in Central Highland and Peninsular plateau.
● They depend on monsoon rainfall, hence are seasonal.
● They are small in size, have fixed course and are adjusted well with valleys.

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

Q4 Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.

(i) What are the important characteristic features of north Indian rivers? How are these different
from Peninsular rivers?

(ii) Suppose you are travelling from Haridwar to Siliguri along the foothills of the Himalayas.
Name the important rivers you will come across. Describe the characteristics of any one of
them.

(i) Important characteristics of Indian river are:

● They originate from the Himalayan mountains that is covered with glaciers.
● Their waterflow is maintained throughout the year. Hence, they are perennial in nature.
● In mountain regions they make V-shaped valleys and deep georges.
● The catchment areas of Himalayan rivers include basins of large size.
● It has got a long course. It starts flowing from the rugged mountains and experience river
capturing and headward erosion.

They are different from Peninsular rivers because:

● Peninsular rivers have smaller basins as compared to North Indian rivers.
● These rivers have to depend on monsoon rivers while North Indian rivers are perennial.
● These rivers form radial, trellis and rectangular pattern whereas North Indian rivers form
Dendritic patterns.

(ii) As one travels from Haridwar to Silliguri along the foothills of Himalayas, He/she may come
across rivers such as Ganga, Ghagra, Mahanadi, Kamla, Sharda, Sarayu, Kosi, Rapti, Gandak,
Ramganga.

Ganga river originates from Gangotri glacier which is present in Uttrakhand. Its length is 2525
km. Several major cities such as Haridwar, Kanpur, Patna, Kannauj, Kolkata, Varanasi, etc., are
based on the banks of this river. The bank of river has high population density as it is one of the
most fertile regions in India. It is also home to several endangered aquatic animals such as
Gangetic dolphins, ghariyals, etc. The river is considered as ‘holy’ in the Hinduism culture. It is a

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Book : India : Physical Environment Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 3 Social Science Geography

source of irrigation for lakhs of farmers from the Northern plains. Several multipurpose dams,
hydroelectric power plants, etc have also been built on the banks of this river.

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