UPSC Prelims 2014 Q46: Geography – Biogeography & Natural Vegetation
Consider the following pairs : Wetlands - Confluence of rivers
1. Harike Wetlands : Confluence of Beas and Satluj/Sutlej
2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park : Confluence of Banas and Chambal
3. Kolleru Lake : Confluence of Musi and Krishna
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Wetlands and river confluences
| Pair | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harike Wetlands : Confluence of Beas and Satluj | Correct | In Punjab; a Ramsar site formed by a barrage at the confluence |
| 2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park : Confluence of Banas and Chambal | Incorrect | Fed by the Gambhir and Banganga rivers, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan |
| 3. Kolleru Lake : Confluence of Musi and Krishna | Incorrect | Lies between the Krishna and Godavari deltas; fed by the Budameru and Tammileru streams |
The three wetlands:
| Wetland | State | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Harike | Punjab | Ramsar site; source of the Indira Gandhi Canal |
| Keoladeo | Rajasthan | Ramsar site, World Heritage Site, on the Montreux Record |
| Kolleru | Andhra Pradesh | Ramsar site; large freshwater lake |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only Harike - Beas and Satluj is correctly matched.
- (b) Incorrect. Keoladeo is fed by the Gambhir and Banganga, and Kolleru lies between two deltas.
- (c) Incorrect. Kolleru Lake is not at the confluence of the Musi and Krishna.
- (d) Incorrect. Pairs 2 and 3 are wrongly matched.
Key point
Harike: Beas-Satluj confluence (Punjab). Keoladeo: Gambhir and Banganga (Bharatpur). Kolleru: between Krishna and Godavari deltas (Andhra Pradesh).
Remember
Harike = Beas + Satluj, in Punjab.
Common mistakes
- Linking Keoladeo to the Chambal because both are in Rajasthan.
- Placing Kolleru on the Krishna river itself.
- Forgetting that the Indira Gandhi Canal starts at Harike.
Exam tip
Harike = where the Beas meets the Satluj. The other two pairs use real river names in the wrong place.
Sources
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — Ramsar sites of India
- Ramsar Sites Information Service — Harike Lake, Keoladeo National Park, Kolleru Lake