Topic– Part of static series under the heading – “Drainage – India”
1) Explain how the major geological events of the past shaped the peninsular drainage system?(250 words)
NCERT Class XI India physical geography Pg 27
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to list the major geological events of the past that impacted the peninsular drainage system. We also need to explain how these events affected the drainage system as in the characteristic features of Peninsular Drainage system
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Give a brief overview of peninsular drainage system.
Body
- List the major geological factors that impacted peninsular drainage system – Geologists believe that the Sahyadri-Aravali axis was the main water divide in the past; The western part of the Peninsula cracked and submerged in the Arabian Sea during the early Tertiary period ; upheaval of Himalayas; slight tilting of peninsular block from NW to SE direction
- Discuss the impact that these events causes which manifest themselves in characteristic features of peninsular river system such as – one drainage was towards east flowing into Bay of Bengal and the other towards west draining into Arabian Sea; During the collision of the Indian plate, the Peninsular block was subjected to subsidence in few regions creating a series of rifts (trough, faults) through which these rivers flow, Straight coastline, steep western slope of the Western Ghats, and the absence of delta formations etc
