Drainage System

The drainage pattern or system of an area refers to the system of flow of surface water mainly through the rivers and basins forms. The drainage system studies streams and the directions in which they carry the surface water of an area.

The drainage system is related to a number of factors, for example slope of land, geological structure, amount of volume of water and velocity of water. The surface run off of India is carried by a number of small and large rivers.

The drainage system of country can be studied with reference to two parts: Northern India and Southern India.

Difference between Himalayan rivers and Peninsular rivers

The rivers which have their origin in the Himalayas are perennial. These rivers are fed by the melting of ice and snow lying near the tongue of glaciers of the Great Himalayan Range (Himadri).

In the rivers of South India, the flow of water is highly fluctuating. While the rivers are in spate during the monsoons, they are almost dry during the long rainless months. Some of these rivers at many places become totally dry.