Himalayan Drainage
Glacial Sources · Deep Gorges · Sedimentation
MICRO-REALM 01
Glacial Origins
- HIGH ALTITUDE GLACIERS
- GANGOTRI, YAMUNOTRI, BOKHAR CHU
- ICE MELTS INTO ROARING STREAMS
MICRO-REALM 02
Perennial Nature
- CONTINUOUS YEAR-ROUND FLOW
- NEVER RUN DRY IN SUMMER
- SUPPORTS MASSIVE POPULATIONS
MICRO-REALM 03
Dual Moisture Feed
- SUMMER: FED BY SNOWMELT
- MONSOON: FED BY HEAVY RAIN
- CAUSES MASSIVE VOLUME SURGES
MICRO-REALM 04
V-Shaped Valleys
- YOUTHFUL EROSIONAL STAGE
- DOWNWARD CUTTING DOMINATES
- STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES
MICRO-REALM 05
Deep Gorges
- I-SHAPED CANYONS
- CARVED DURING HIMALAYAN UPLIFT
- INDUS & BRAHMAPUTRA GORGES
MICRO-REALM 06
Waterfalls & Rapids
- HIGH GRADIENT DESCENT
- TURBULENT, HIGH-ENERGY WATER
- MASSIVE HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL
MICRO-REALM 07
Entry to Plains
- ABRUPT DROP IN GRADIENT
- VELOCITY DECREASES RAPIDLY
- FORMS ALLUVIAL FANS (BHABAR)
MICRO-REALM 08
Meandering Courses
- MATURE STAGE IN PLAINS
- LATERAL EROSION WIDENS VALLEY
- OXBOW LAKES FORMATION
MICRO-REALM 09
Erosional Capacity
- FAST CURRENT CARRIES BOULDERS
- ABRASION & ATTRITION IN MOUNTAINS
- WEARS DOWN THE HIMALAYAS
MICRO-REALM 10
Huge Sediment Load
- MILLIONS OF TONS OF SILT
- DEPOSITED IN NORTHERN PLAINS
- CHOKES RIVER BEDS REDUCING DEPTH
MICRO-REALM 11
Channel Shifting
- BRAIDED RIVER NETWORKS
- SEDIMENT BLOCKS MAIN PATH
- THE KOSI EFFECT (SORROW OF BIHAR)
MICRO-REALM 12
Annual Flooding
- MONSOON SURGE OVERFLOWS BANKS
- SHALLOW SEDIMENT-FILLED BEDS
- CREATES FERTILE KHADAR SOILS