Coastal Rivers Of India
Downstream in the main part of a coastal river, these rivers are short-lived waterways. Smaller areas typically are found with these. Moreover, they are also ephemerals which implies that they may not carry their water all year round. Usually, such features require rain from monsoons for them to have a flow. Coastal rivers in India possess some unique traits and below are a few examples:
Main Characteristics:
Diameter: Coastal rivers often tend to be shorter than their main counterparts that originate either from the Himalayas or the Western Ghats.
Small Drainage Basins: These kinds of rivers have relatively smaller drainage areas compared to other types of freshwater bodies on land.
Not Always Flowing: Several coastal rivers are mainly seasonal and do not have any water during dry seasons.
Fast Flowing: Such fast-flowing streams are common in areas where the rivers run down from high slopes towards the ocean.
Coastal River Samples:
Western Shoreline Flowing Bodies:
- Narmada River:
- The Source of Origin: Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
- Length: About 1,312 km
- Its Importance: It runs westwards from the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat into the Arabian Sea.
Tapi (Tapti) River:
- Source of Origin: Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh
- Length: About 724 km
- Its Importance: This river flows through central India before emptying itself into the Arabian Sea near Surat in Gujarat.
Mahi River:
Source: Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh
Distance: Around 583 kilometers
Importance: It traverses through Rajasthan and Gujarat before flowing into the Arabian Sea.
Periyar River:
Origin: Western Ghats, Kerala
Length: Approximately 244 km
Significance: It is the longest river in Kerala that empties into the Arabian Sea and serves as a major source of water for the state.
East Coast Rivers:
Subarnarekha River:
- Source: Ranchi Plateau, Jharkhand
- Length: Approximately395 km
- Importance: It flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha and debouches into the Bay of Bengal.
Brahmani River
- Starting point: The junction of Sankh with South Koel River in Odisha
- Distance: About 480 km long
- Importance: It passes through Odisha and drains into the Bay of Bengal
Penner (Pennar)
- In Nandi Hills, Karnataka is where it all started.
- it stretches for 597 kilometers.
- Hence important as it passes through both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
Palar River:
Source: Nandi Hills, Karnataka Longevity:
Approximately 348 km
Importance: Flows through Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Vaigai River:
- Beginning: Varusanadu Hills, Tamil Nadu
- Length: Around 258 kilometers
- Importance: Flows through Tamil Nadu and finally into the Bay of Bengal, vital for Madurai’s water supply.
Frequently Ask Questions
What are coastal rivers in India?
Coastal rivers in India are those that originate in the coastal regions and typically have shorter courses compared to the major rivers originating from the Himalayas or the Deccan Plateau. They flow directly into the sea, either the Arabian Sea on the west coast or the Bay of Bengal on the east coast.
What are the characteristics of coastal rivers that set them apart from other rivers found in India?
The length of length-wise flowing streams called coastal streams is short, with inadequate watershed areas and they, however, are unpredictable for most times. Major Indian rivers on the contrary like those that rise from the Himalayas or are situated along the Deccan plateau have long courses; bigger drainage basins and most times perennialized by melting snow or monsoon rains.
Do you have the names of any seashore rivers situated along the western shoreline of India?
The western coastline of India has some famous coastal rivers which include:
- the Periyar River in Kerala
- Mandovi River in Goa
- Zuari River in Goa
- Kundalika River in Maharashtra
Some coastal rivers on India’s east coast include:
- The Subarnarekha River flows through both the states of Odisha and West Bengal.
- In Odisha, there is also the Brahmani River.
- Both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh share the Palar River.
- The Vaigai River is found exclusively in Tamil Nadu.
What is the Importance of Coastal Rivers in India?
Coastal rivers are of great significance in the areas they pass through, providing water for farming purposes, giving life to the ecosystems around them, and acting as major sources of freshwater supply for people living near their banks. Furthermore, these rivers help shape the geographical and environmental exceptionalities found in Indian coastal regions.
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