Page 20 - Social Science 2_flatten

major part of northern India. It is a large Division of the Northern Plains
flat area which extends from Punjab in
Basin
the west to Assam in the east. It includes
The area watered by a river and its
the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar
tributaries is called its basin.
Pradesh, part of Uttarakhand, Bihar, West
,
Three rivers – the Sutlej Ganga and
Bengal and Assam. The Northern Plains
Brahmaputra – and their tributaries have
are very fertile because most of this
formed the Northern Plains. These plains
region is drained by the river Ganga and
can be divided into three main parts :
its tributaries. Sometimes this area is also

called the Gangetic Plains . • The Sutlej River Basin
• The Ganga River Basin
Features of the Plains
• The Brahmaputra River Basin
• These plains are drained by three big
rivers – the Ganga, Indus and

Brahmaputra – and their tributaries.
A smaller river that flows into a larger river
These rivers carry water throughout
is called a tributary of the larger river.
the year. They also bring with them
broken pieces of rocks, sand and silt.
The Sutlej River Basin
The fine silt deposited by these rivers
is called alluvium . It is fertile and very • River Sutlej originates in Tibet. Beas is
good for crops. its main tributary. Punjab and Haryana
are parts of the Sutlej river basin.
• The plains enjoy the benefit of

perennial rivers and a good amount of
rainfall. Hence, they are suitable for

crops like wheat and rice, and are
rightly called the ‘Food Bowl of

India’.

Bhakra Nangal Dam

• The basin receives short rainfall. Here

the agriculture depends on the water
from canals, dams and tube wells. For

Wheat field example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam on
the Sutlej river provides enough water
• The plains are densely populated and
have a network of roads and railways . for irrigation and power generation.

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