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Question 28 of 131 · Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India
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SSC

The longest river of Kerala is the:

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Answer: Option B — Periyar

Detailed Solution

The Periyar, about 244 km long, is the longest river in Kerala. It has the largest discharge of any river in the state and is called the "Lifeline of Kerala".

Course of the Periyar:

  • It rises in the Sivagiri hills of the Western Ghats, in the southern part of Kerala, near the Tamil Nadu border.
  • It flows north and then west through the Idukki and Ernakulam districts.
  • It empties into the Arabian Sea, partly through the backwaters near Kochi and partly near Kodungallur.

Dams and projects on the Periyar:

Mullaperiyar Dam: built in 1895 by the British, it diverts water to Tamil Nadu through a tunnel for irrigation in the Vaigai basin. Its safety and water level have been the subject of a long dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, decided by the Supreme Court.

The Periyar Lake, created by the Mullaperiyar Dam, lies at the centre of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (Thekkady).

The Idukki Hydroelectric Project is also in the Periyar basin.

Periyar Tiger Reserve:

  • It is one of India's best-known tiger reserves, located in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.
  • It is famous for its elephants, boat rides on the lake and spice plantations nearby.

Importance:

  • The Periyar supplies drinking water to several cities, including Kochi.
  • It supports agriculture, fisheries, hydropower and industries; the Eloor-Edayar region along its banks is an industrial belt, which has caused pollution.

Rivers of Kerala:

  • The second longest river is the Bharathapuzha (also called the Nila), and the third is the Pamba.
  • The Pamba, on whose banks the Sabarimala temple is located, is known for the Aranmula boat race.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Bharathapuzha is the second longest river of Kerala.
  • ✗The Pamba is the third longest.
  • ✗The Chaliyar is another important river of northern Kerala.

Quick tip

Remember: Longest river of Kerala = Periyar (about 244 km; "Lifeline of Kerala"; Mullaperiyar Dam, Periyar Tiger Reserve); second = Bharathapuzha.

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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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