NCERT Class 5 EVS Our Wondrous World Chapter 02 Journey of a River PDF Download

Chapter 2: Journey of a River

Where I Begin, Where I Flow

I have no feet, but I travel far,
Through fields and forests, under moon and star.
I quench your thirst and help plants grow,
From mountain to sea, I quietly flow.

Who am I?
Yes! I am a river.

I am Godavari. My journey begins high up in the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra. Although I start out as a stream, as I move across the land, rainwater and other streams join me, making me wider and stronger. The small streams joining are my tributaries.

I travel 1,465 kilometres before joining the Bay of Bengal. I am the second longest river in India after river Ganga.

[Figure: Map showing the Godavari River's course through Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with tributaries (Indravati, Manjira, Sabari), dams (Sriram Sagar Project, Polavaram Dam), wildlife sanctuaries (Kawal Tiger Reserve, Pench National Park, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary), and ending in the Bay of Bengal, See in your textbook]

Look at the image given below and answer the following.

1. Name the states that Godavari flows through.
2. Name a dam and a wildlife sanctuary along the length of Godavari.
3. Which other small rivers join Godavari in its journey?

Teacher's Note

When a river starts as a small stream and grows larger as other streams join it, remember that tributaries are the smaller rivers joining, not the main river. Look at the map and trace how the Godavari becomes wider as the Indravati, Manjira and Sabari join it - these are its tributaries. The main river carries all of them together to the sea.

The Life I Hold

There are fascinating stories about me, many from the Ramayana and the Puranas. I am called Dakshina Ganga because I flow through southern India and am regarded as sacred.

In places like Nashik, near where I begin, people come from all around to take a dip in my holy waters, especially during events like the Godavari Pushkaram.

[Figure: A woman and children at the bank of a river, See in your textbook]

I flow all year round which makes me a perennial river. Some rivers flow only when they receive water in the rainy season, which makes them seasonal rivers.

I pass through rich forests full of wildlife, including the tiger, barking deer, the Indian golden gecko and the famed red sandalwood trees. You have learnt in the last chapter that freshwater sources like me are home to many plants and animals.

When I reach the sea, I spread out into many small streams that form a delta. My freshwater meets the salty sea there. This place is called the Coringa Mangrove Forests, where my journey ends.

[Figure: Coringa Mangrove Forests with flamingos, sea turtles and mangrove trees, See in your textbook]

The Many Ways I Support Lives

Since ancient times, people have always built their homes near rivers or water bodies. Can you guess why?

Do you know the many ways I support people every single day? I provide water to people in the many towns and villages around me.

The water for all houses, schools and fields comes from me. I not only help people drink, cook and wash, but also help them to grow food, and make things in their factories. I also support many livelihoods.

My water is carried in pipes and canals, and shared by many.

[Figure: People farming using river water and boating on the river, See in your textbook]

Ecotourism means visiting natural places like forests, rivers or mountains to enjoy their beauty, watch animals or birds, and learn about nature without harming the environment.

1. List three ways in which people are dependent on the river Godavari.
2. In which occupations are people engaged near the river Godavari?

Teacher's Note

Do not confuse perennial rivers with seasonal rivers. A perennial river like Godavari flows all through the year because it receives water from tributaries, rainfall and underground sources. A seasonal river dries up after the rainy season ends. When you answer questions about rivers in India, check whether the river is perennial or seasonal - this affects how people use it and depend on it.

Key Points

• The Godavari River begins in the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar and flows 1,465 kilometres to the Bay of Bengal, making it the second longest river in India.
• Tributaries are smaller rivers and streams that join a main river, making it wider and stronger as it flows.
• Perennial rivers like Godavari flow all year round, while seasonal rivers flow only during the rainy season.
• Rivers support human life by providing water for drinking, cooking, farming, and industry, and they are home to many plants and animals.
• A delta forms where a river spreads into many small streams as it meets the sea, creating unique ecosystems like mangrove forests.

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