Question

Which is the largest river basin in India?

Answer 1

The largest river basin in India is the Ganga river basin. The length of the river Ganga is over 2500 km.

• The Ganga river emerges on the plains from the mountains at Haridwar.
• Gangotri glacier feeds the Bhagirathi river. At Devprayag in Uttarakhand, Alaknanda river joins the Bhagirathi river.
• Many tributary rivers which emerge from the Himalayas join the river Ganga.
• Some of the major tributaries are Yamuna, Kosi, Gandak, Ghaghara river.
• Yamunotri glacier in the Himalayas is the source of Yamuna river, a major tributary of the Ganga river.
• Initially both Ganga and Yamuna flow parallel to each other and they meet at Allahabad.
• Nepal Himalayas are the source of Kosi, Gandak and Ghaghara rivers, the other major tributaries of Ganga river.
• The agricultural soil is enriched by these rivers, but they also cause massive damage to property and life by flooding the northern plains every year.
• Rivers Son, Betwa and Chambal are the major tributaries of river Ganga, which emerge from the peninsular uplands.
• The above mentioned rivers do not carry much water, and shorter courses as they rise from the semi-arid regions.
• With large tributaries joining the Ganga river from its left and right banks, it causes enlargement of the river, which flows in the Eastward direction towards West Bengal.
• At a place named Farakka, the river bifurcates. This is the northernmost point of Ganga delta.