River Mahanadi

GS1: Geography

Introduction:

  • The Mahanadi is a major river in East-Central India, known as the “Gift of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.”
  • It is the sixth-largest river in India by discharge and plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the region.

Key Facts:

  • Source:
    • Originates from the Sihawa hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
    • Source altitude: Approximately 442 meters above sea level.
  • Course:
    • Total length: 858 km.
    • Flows through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
    • Drains into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Drainage Basin:
    • Covers an area of 1,41,589 sq km.
    • Lies in Chhattisgarh (53%), Odisha (47%), and small parts in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
  • Tributaries:
    • Left-bank tributaries: Seonath, Mand, Hasdeo.
    • Right-bank tributaries: Ong, Jonk, Tel.

Major Dams and Reservoirs:

  1. Hirakud Dam:
    • Located near Sambalpur, Odisha.
    • The longest earthen dam in the world and one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects in India.
    • Functions: Flood control, irrigation, hydroelectricity, and water supply.
  2. Other Projects:
    • Ravishankar Sagar Dam in Chhattisgarh.
    • Sondur Reservoir and Hasdeo Barrage.

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