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Important Rivers and Lakes of India – GK Notes for SSC, UPSC & Exams

 

Important Rivers and Lakes of India – GK Notes for Exams

📖 Introduction

    India is a land of rivers and lakes that play a vital role in its culture, agriculture, economy, and biodiversity. Many rivers are considered sacred and have shaped India’s civilization for thousands of years. Likewise, the lakes of India provide water resources, support tourism, and hold ecological importance.

    Questions related to important rivers and lakes of India are very common in GK quizzes, school exams, and competitive exams like SSC, UPSC, Railways, Banking, and State PSCs.

✅ Major Rivers of India

  1. Ganga (2525 km)

    • Longest river in India.

    • Origin: Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand).

    • Joins the Brahmaputra and flows into the Bay of Bengal.

    • Considered the most sacred river in India.

  2. Yamuna (1376 km)

    • Major tributary of the Ganga.

    • Origin: Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand).

    • Flows through Delhi, Mathura, Agra.

  3. Brahmaputra (2900 km in India & Tibet)

    • Origin: Angsi Glacier, Tibet.

    • Enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, flows through Assam.

    • Known for floods and fertile plains.

  4. Godavari (1465 km)

    • Longest river of South India, also called Dakshina Ganga.

    • Origin: Nasik (Maharashtra).

  5. Krishna (1400 km)

    • Origin: Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra).

    • Flows through Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.

  6. Narmada (1312 km)

    • Origin: Amarkantak Plateau (Madhya Pradesh).

    • One of the few rivers flowing westwards into the Arabian Sea.

  7. Kaveri (800 km)

    • Origin: Talakaveri (Karnataka).

    • Important for irrigation in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

✅ Important Lakes of India

  1. Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir)

    • Largest freshwater lake in India.

    • Formed by tectonic activity.

  2. Chilika Lake (Odisha)

    • Largest brackish water lagoon in India.

    • Famous for migratory birds.

  3. Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan)

    • Largest inland saltwater lake in India.

    • Known for salt production.

  4. Dal Lake (Jammu & Kashmir)

    • Famous for houseboats and tourism.

    • Often called the “Jewel of Kashmir”.

  5. Loktak Lake (Manipur)

    • Known for its floating islands (phumdis).

    • Houses the world’s only floating national park – Keibul Lamjao.

📌 Quick Facts for Exams

  • Longest River in India: Ganga

  • Longest River of South India: Godavari

  • West-flowing Rivers: Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi, Zuari

  • Largest Freshwater Lake: Wular Lake

  • Largest Brackish Water Lake: Chilika Lake

  • Largest Saltwater Lake: Sambhar Lake

📝 Conclusion

    The rivers and lakes of India are not only essential for irrigation, transportation, and hydroelectric power but also hold deep cultural and religious importance. For exam preparation, students should remember the origin, length, and special features of each river and lake.