Cauvery River
• Kaveri (Cauvery) is designated as the „Dakshina Ganga‟ or „Ganga of the South‟.
• Cauvery River rises at an elevation of 1,341 m at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village of Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka.
• The total length of the river from origin to outfall is 800 km.
• Cauvery basin extends over states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry draining an area of 81 thousand Sq.km.
Cauvery River
• It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and the south and by the ridges separating it from Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north.
• Physiographically, the basin can be divided into three parts – the Westen Ghats, the Plateau of Mysore and the Delta.
• The delta area is the most fertile tract in the basin.
• Red soils occupy large areas in the basin. Alluvial soils are found in the delta areas.
• The basin in Karnataka receives rainfall mainly from the S-W Monsoon and partially from N-E Monsoon.
• The basin in Tamil Nadu receives good flows from the North-East Monsoon.
Cauvery River
• Its upper catchment area receives rainfall during summer by the south west monsoon and the lower catchment area during winter season by the retreating north-east monsoon.
• It is, therefore almost a perennial river with comparatively less fluctuations in flow and is very useful for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
• Thus the Cauvery is one of the best regulated rivers and 90 to 95 % of its irrigation and power production potential already stands harnessed.
• The river drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• The major part of basin is covered with agricultural land accounting to 66.21% of the total area.
Tributaries of the Cauvery River
• Left Bank: the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha and the Arkavati.
• Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati joins from right.
• The river descends from the South Karnataka Plateau to the Tamil Nadu Plains through the Sivasamudram waterfalls (101 m high).
• At Shivanasamudram, the river branches off into two parts and falls through a height of 91 m. in a series of falls and rapids.
• The falls at this point is utilized for power generation by the power station at Shivanasamudram
Tributaries of the Cauvery River
• The two branches of the river join after the fall and flow through a wide gorge which is known as „Mekedatu‟ (Goats leap) and continues its journey to form the boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States for a distance of 64 km.
• At Hogennekkal Falls, it takes Southerly direction and enters the Mettur Reservoir.
• A tributary called Bhavani joins Cauvery on the Right bank about 45 Kms below Mettur Reservoir.
• Thereafter it enters the plains of Tamil Nadu.
Tributaries of the Cauvery River
• Two more tributaries Noyil and Amaravathi join on the right bank and here the river widens with sandy bed and flows as „Akhanda Cauvery‟.
• After crossing Tiruchirapalli district, the river divides into two parts, the Northern branch being called „The Coleron‟ and Southern branch remains as Cauvery and from here the Cauvery Delta begins.
• After flowing for about 16 Kms, the two branches join again to form „Srirangam Island‟.
• On the Cauvery branch lies the “Grand Anicut” said to have been constructed by a Chola King in 1st Century A.D.
Floods in Cauvery Basin
• The Cauvery basin is fan shaped in Karnataka and leaf shaped in Tamil Nadu. The run-off does not drain off quickly because of its shape and therefore no fast raising floods occur in the basin.
⮚ Projects on Cauvery River
• During the pre-plan period many projects were completed in this basin which included Krishnarajasagar in Karnataka, Mettur dam and Cauvery delta system in Tamil Nadu.
• Lower Bhavani, Hemavati, Harangi, Kabini are important projects completed duing the plan period.
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