Rivers of Karnataka

Question

1. Cauvery River

• Origin: Talakaveri in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district, Karnataka.
• Length: 800 km (approximately 320 km in Karnataka).
• Course: Flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, draining into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries:
  • Left: Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani
  • Right: Lakshmana Tirtha, Arkavathy, Noyyal
• Key Features:
  • Known as the "Ganga of the South."
  • Major dams: KRS (Krishna Raja Sagara) Dam, Kabini Dam.
  • Key cities along the river: Mysuru, Srirangapatna.
  • Plays a crucial role in irrigation and drinking water supply.
  • Dispute: Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

2. Tungabhadra River

• Origin: The confluence of Tunga and Bhadra rivers at Koodli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka.
• Length: 531 km.
• Course: Flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, ultimately merging with the Krishna River.
• Tributaries:
  • Left: Varada
  • Right: Handri, Vedavathi
• Key Features:
  • Major dam: Tungabhadra Dam near Hospet.
  • Significant for irrigation and power generation.
  • Important historical sites: Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on its banks.

3. Krishna River

• Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra (though it flows through Karnataka).
• Length: 1,400 km (approximately 480 km in Karnataka).
• Course: Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries:
  • Left: Ghataprabha, Malaprabha
  • Right: Bhima, Tungabhadra
• Key Features:
  • Major dams: Almatti Dam, Narayanpur Dam.
  • Important cities: Bagalkot, Raichur.
  • It is one of the longest rivers in India and a vital source of irrigation.

4. Sharavathi River

• Origin: Western Ghats, near Ambuthirtha, Shivamogga district.
• Length: 128 km.
• Course: Flows westward and drains into the Arabian Sea.
• Tributaries: No major tributaries.
• Key Features:
  • Famous for Jog Falls, one of India's highest waterfalls.
  • Sharavathi Valley is rich in biodiversity.
  • Sharavathi Hydroelectric Project is a key power generation source for Karnataka.

5. Hemavati River

• Origin: Western Ghats, near Ballala Rayana Durga, Chikkamagaluru district.
• Length: 245 km.
• Course: Flows southeast and joins the Cauvery River.
• Tributaries: Yagachi River.
• Key Features:
  • Hemavati Dam (Gorur Dam) provides water for irrigation and drinking.
  • Important for agriculture in southern Karnataka.

6. Kabini River

• Origin: Wayanad district, Kerala (flows into Karnataka).
• Length: 240 km.
• Course: Flows through Karnataka and joins the Cauvery River at T. Narasipura.
• Tributaries: Taraka, Nugu.
• Key Features:
  • Kabini Reservoir provides water for irrigation and drinking.
  • Kabini is known for its wildlife sanctuary, home to a large population of elephants.

7. Netravati River

• Origin: Western Ghats, Kudremukh range, Chikkamagaluru district.
• Length: 103 km.
• Course: Flows westward, passing through Mangaluru, and drains into the Arabian Sea.
• Tributaries: Kumaradhara.
• Key Features:
  • Plays an essential role in the economy of coastal Karnataka.
  • Source of water for Mangaluru city.
  • Netravati is associated with proposed diversion projects that have been debated due to environmental concerns.

8. Malaprabha River

• Origin: Western Ghats, near Kanakumbi, Belagavi district.
• Length: 304 km.
• Course: Flows eastward and joins the Krishna River.
• Tributaries: Bennihalla, Hirehalla.
• Key Features:
  • Major dam: Naviluteertha Dam, used for irrigation.
  • Provides water to the northern districts of Karnataka.
  • There are ongoing disputes over water-sharing with neighboring states.

9. Ghataprabha River

• Origin: Western Ghats, near the Jamboti Hills, Belagavi district.
• Length: 283 km.
• Course: Flows eastward and joins the Krishna River.
• Tributaries: Hiranyakeshi River.
• Key Features:
  • Major dam: Hidkal Dam, provides irrigation to northern Karnataka.
  • Known for the Gokak Falls, a popular tourist spot.

10. Bhima River

• Origin: Bhimashankar, Maharashtra.
• Length: 861 km (about 275 km in Karnataka).
• Course: Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana before joining the Krishna River.
• Tributaries: Kumudvathi, Ghod.
• Key Features:
  • Important for agriculture in northern Karnataka.
  • The Bhima River basin is prone to flooding during monsoon.

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Summary of Key Rivers of Karnataka:

River	Origin	Major Tributaries	Key Features
Cauvery	Talakaveri, Kodagu	Hemavati, Kabini, Arkavathy	KRS Dam, irrigation for southern Karnataka
Tungabhadra	Confluence of Tunga & Bhadra	Varada, Vedavathi	Tungabhadra Dam, flows through Hampi (UNESCO site)
Krishna	Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra	Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra	Almatti Dam, one of India's longest rivers
Sharavathi	Western Ghats, Shivamogga	-	Jog Falls, hydroelectric power
Hemavati	Chikkamagaluru district	Yagachi	Hemavati Dam (Gorur Dam), irrigates southern Karnataka
Kabini	Wayanad, Kerala	Taraka, Nugu	Kabini Reservoir, wildlife sanctuary
Netravati	Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru	Kumaradhara	Source of water for Mangaluru
Malaprabha	Western Ghats, Belagavi	Bennihalla, Hirehalla	Naviluteertha Dam, irrigation in northern Karnataka
Ghataprabha	Jamboti Hills, Belagavi	Hiranyakeshi	Hidkal Dam, Gokak Falls
Bhima	Bhimashankar, Maharashtra	Kumudvathi, Ghod	Agriculture in northern Karnataka, prone to monsoon floods

Answer 1

Match the following rivers with their key features:

Rivers	Key Features
1. Tungabhadra	a) Jog Falls
2. Cauvery	b) Hemavati Dam (Gorur Dam)
3. Sharavathi	c) Hidkal Dam, Gokak Falls
4. Hemavati	d) Tungabhadra Dam near Hospet
5. Ghataprabha	e) KRS Dam, irrigation for southern Karnataka

Options:
a) 1-d, 2-e, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c
b) 1-e, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-b
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-e, 4-a, 5-d
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-e, 5-d

Answer: a) 1-d, 2-e, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c

Explanation:

• Tungabhadra: Tungabhadra Dam near Hospet (d)
• Cauvery: KRS Dam, irrigation for southern Karnataka (e)
• Sharavathi: Jog Falls (a)
• Hemavati: Hemavati Dam (Gorur Dam) (b)
• Ghataprabha: Hidkal Dam, Gokak Falls (c)

Match the following rivers with their tributaries:

Rivers	Tributaries
1. Krishna	a) Varada, Vedavathi
2. Tungabhadra	b) Ghataprabha, Malaprabha
3. Netravati	c) Taraka, Nugu
4. Kabini	d) Kumudvathi, Ghod
5. Bhima	e) Kumaradhara

Options:
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-e, 4-c, 5-d
b) 1-a, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-c
c) 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-e, 5-a
d) 1-b, 2-d, 3-c, 4-a, 5-e

Answer: a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-e, 4-c, 5-d

Explanation:

• Krishna: Ghataprabha, Malaprabha (b)
• Tungabhadra: Varada, Vedavathi (a)
• Netravati: Kumaradhara (e)
• Kabini: Taraka, Nugu (c)
• Bhima: Kumudvathi, Ghod (d)

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Here’s another Match the Following:

Match the following rivers with their places of origin:

Rivers	Place of Origin
1. Cauvery	a) Talakaveri, Kodagu
2. Sharavathi	b) Confluence of Tunga and Bhadra, Shivamogga
3. Tungabhadra	c) Western Ghats, Shivamogga
4. Malaprabha	d) Western Ghats, Belagavi
5. Kabini	e) Wayanad, Kerala

Options:
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d, 5-e
b) 1-e, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d, 5-c
c) 1-a, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-c
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-e, 4-d, 5-a

Answer: a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d, 5-e

Explanation:

• Cauvery: Talakaveri, Kodagu (a)
• Sharavathi: Western Ghats, Shivamogga (c)
• Tungabhadra: Confluence of Tunga and Bhadra, Shivamogga (b)
• Malaprabha: Western Ghats, Belagavi (d)
• Kabini: Wayanad, Kerala (e)