Name: Physical Divisions of India - 2
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 45 s
Description: India is a country with a varied landscape. Watch this video to get a glimpse of the Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, and the Island Groups.

Question

Most rivers in the Deccan Plateau flow from the west to the east because the slope of the Deccan Plateau is from $900$ m in the west to $300$ m in the east—a tilt towards the Bay of Bengal. Before they reach the sea, they deposit all the material they carry at their mouths, forming large and fertile deltas.

The Narmada and Tapi rivers rise in the Central Highlands and flow westwards to the Arabian Sea. They do not form deltas but reach the sea through estuaries.

Find out why.

Accepted Answer

The Narmada and Tapi rivers, despite flowing in the general direction of the Deccan Plateau's slope, do not form deltas like the other rivers of the region. Instead, they reach the sea through estuaries. The reason for this lies in the geological and topographical characteristics of the region.

The Narmada and Tapi rivers have their origins in the Central Highlands, which consist of older, harder rocks like granite and gneiss. These rocks are more resistant to erosion compared to the softer sedimentary rocks of the Deccan Plateau. As a result, the Narmada and Tapi rivers do not carry as much sediment and do not form extensive deltas. Instead, these rivers have shorter courses and relatively steeper gradients. They flow through narrow valleys and make their way through the hard rock formations, eventually reaching the Arabian Sea through estuaries.

Important Questions on India: Physical Features

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