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Also known as India’s cultural hub, Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in area, sprawled over 2,36,286 sq. km. The state’s geographical location is prime for its economy, diversity of natural landforms, trade, and more. It is divided into four distinct regions- from the North, and the first region is known as the Shivalik foothills, followed by Terai, the Gangetic Plains, and the Vindhya Hills. Owing to such a diverse natural topography, there are numerous rivers in Uttar Pradesh. They drain the entire state but are mainly concentrated in the Terai Bhabhar and Southern plateaus and hilly regions, thanks to the unique terrain’s slope.
The Major Drainage Regions Of Uttar Pradesh
The two most important regions considered for explaining the natural drainage system of Uttar Pradesh are the Terai Bhabhar region in the northern area and the hills and plateaus towards the southern part.
Hills and plateaus in the South
Formed during the Pre-Cambrian era, the southern portion of Uttar Pradesh has an average elevation of 300 metres above sea level. The maximum elevation is about 600 metres above sea level in the hilly regions, especially in Sonbhadra and Kaimur hills. The most distinct mountain area is the Vindhya Hills, which slope from the North to the east.
Terai-Bhabhar Region In The North
The Terai Bhabhar region is the area between the foothills of the Shivalik range and the northern boundary of the Gangetic plain. It runs as a narrow strip from Saharanpur to Deoria and is drained by the mountain rivers and streams. The region is characterised by boulder-covered streams, a marshy region, and tall and dense grassland. It has two different slopes- in the western region, it slopes along the north-south direction, whereas in the eastern zone, the sloping is from the north-western to the south-eastern direction.
A List Of Rivers Flowing Through Uttar Pradesh
There are approximately 30 rivers in Uttar Pradesh. Some of them are listed below:
Ganga: Flowing from west to east through the Gangetic Plains and forming a tributary network.
Bhilganga: A tributary of Bhagirathi located in the Tehri region.
Ramganga: Flowing through the foothills of Shivalik, it receives water from the natural springs and meets the Ganges in Bareilly.
Gomti: Sprawling over a length of 900 kilometres, it meets the Uttar Pradesh Gangetic basin near Saidpur, Ghaziabad.
Sai: Draining the towns of Pratapgarh and Raiebareily, this river meets Gomti in the region of Jaunpur.
Ghagra: Even though it originates from the Mansarovar Lake, it meets the Ganga river in UP near the DariganjBhair and is well-known for Gangetic dolphins.
Saryu: Flowing along the banks of Ayodhya, it meets Ghagra in the Bahraich district of UP.
Yamuna: Known to be one of the major rivers in Uttar Pradesh, it drains cities like Noida, Mathura, Hamirpur, Firozabad, and more, before meeting the Ganges in Allahabad.
Sirsa: Draining the Etawah district, it runs along the Yamuna river.
Chambal: Originating from Panchnada in the Etawah district, it is known for alligators, ravines, and colossal water volume that makes the Chambal basin one of the most fertile regions in UP.
The Puraha and the Ahneya: Located in the Mainpuri district, these two rivers join a series of lakes, starting from Kakan and expanding to Sauj.
Pandu: The only tributary of the Ganga river in UP in the Etawah district.
Betwa: Flowing into Uttar Pradesh from the Vindhya Ranges, it is famous for the three most important dams- the Matatila dam, the Rajghat dam, and the Parichha dam.
Jawai: Also known to be the lifeline of Bundelkhand.
Tamsa: A Ganges tributary that joins the Belan river in UP before dumping water into the Ganges near the Sirsa region.
Son: Drains the north-eastern region of Uttar Pradesh.
Rihand: Joining Son in the Sonbhadra district of UP, it houses the Rihand Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the state.
Kanhar: A tributary of Son that flows through the Sonbhadra district of Mirzapur.
Karmanasa: Known to be one of the most important rivers in Uttar Pradesh and famous for the Devdari falls, it is a Ganges tributary that drains the Rohtas plateau in Uttar Pradesh.
Major River Systems In Uttar Pradesh
The state has many river systems since several major rivers in Uttar Pradesh drain a vast area and are joined by tributaries and streams flowing from the Shivalik. These are:
Ramganga River System: Covering the districts of Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnor, Rampur, and Shahjahanpur, it forms a confluence in Kannauj with the Ganges.
Yamuna River System: Rising to an elevation of 100 metres at the confluence with the Ganges in the Allahabad region, it drains almost the entire Terai.
Conclusion
The rivers in Uttar Pradesh have formed a large irrigation basin that makes the land more fertile and suitable for farming and agriculture. Several pilgrim cities have emerged near the water banks due to the major rivers like Yamuna, Gomti, Son, Ghagra, Ganges, and more. Besides, further down the state, where the harsh climate and rainfall are scanty, several rivers like Jawai have formed the lifeline for agriculture and population. Besides, the torrential rivers entering the state from the mountains, especially the Shivalik, bring a lot of silt, which is why most of UP has rich, fertile alluvial soil. Uttar Pradesh is known to be one of the central states of the doab region or the Indo-Gangetic plains.
