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Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin ? 1. Nagarhole National Park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 (1, 3 and 4 only). The Cauvery River basin extends over the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, drained by tributaries like the Kabini, Bhavani, and Moyar.
- Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka): Situated in the Kodagu and Mysore districts, it lies within the Cauvery basin. The Kabini River, a major tributary of the Cauvery, drains this park.
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu): Located at the confluence of the Eastern and Western Ghats, it is part of the Cauvery basin and is significant for the Bhavani River system.
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala): It is drained by the Kabini River, making it an integral part of the Cauvery drainage system.
- Papikonda National Park (Andhra Pradesh): This is located in the Godavari River basin, far north of the Cauvery basin, and is therefore excluded.
Thus, statements 1, 3, and 4 are geographically located within the Cauvery basin.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Map Overlay' question requiring you to superimpose the 'Protected Areas' map onto the 'River Drainage' map. It is fair because Papikonda (Andhra Pradesh) is geographically distinct from the Cauvery basin (Karnataka/Tamil Nadu), allowing for logical elimination.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"In the Cauvery basin, the protected areas include Nagarhole National Park, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary."
Why this source?
- Explicitly states which protected areas are in the Cauvery basin and includes Nagarhole National Park by name.
- Presents Nagarhole alongside other areas as part of the Cauvery basin, directly answering the location question.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The Nagarhole National Park, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are located in the Cauvery basin"
Why this source?
- Directly names Nagarhole National Park as one of the protected areas located in the Cauvery basin.
- Puts Nagarhole in the same list with other Cauvery-basin protected areas, reinforcing the claim.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"In conclusion, the protected areas that are located in the Cauvery basin are Nagarhole National Park, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary."
Why this source?
- Concludes explicitly that Nagarhole National Park is located in the Cauvery basin.
- Contrasts Nagarhole (included) with Papikonda (excluded), clarifying basin membership.
- Explicitly states which protected areas are in the Cauvery basin and includes Nagarhole National Park by name.
- Presents Nagarhole alongside other areas as part of the Cauvery basin, directly answering the location question.
- Directly names Nagarhole National Park as one of the protected areas located in the Cauvery basin.
- Puts Nagarhole in the same list with other Cauvery-basin protected areas, reinforcing the claim.
- Concludes explicitly that Nagarhole National Park is located in the Cauvery basin.
- Contrasts Nagarhole (included) with Papikonda (excluded), clarifying basin membership.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Table 4.10 (Contd.) > p. 40
Strength: 5/5
“Nagarhole National Park; State/States: Coorg (Karnataka); Dominant Species Protected: Elephant, tiger, panther, chital, sambar, hyena, sloth-bear, jungle-fowl, partridges, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 31. Nagarjunasagar–Srisilam Sanc tuary; State/States: Andhra Pradesh; Dominant Species Protected: Tiger, panther, sloth-bear,chital, Jerdon's cours er, sambar, nilgai, black-buck, jackal, fox, rock rat, wolf, hyena, mugarmuchh (crocodile) • National Park/Sanctuaries: 32. Namdhapa National park; State/States: Arunachal Pradesh; Dominant Species Protected: Tiger, leopard, clouded-leopard, gaur, goral, hyena, gibbon, musk-deer, red-panda, macaque, horn-bill, jungle-fowl, pheasants, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 33. Nawegaon National Park; State/States: Maharashtra; Dominant Species Protected: Elephant, panther, hyena, deer, nilgai, wild boar, fox, jackal, wolf, birds, etc. • National Park/Sanctuaries: 34.”
Why relevant
Lists Nagarhole National Park and locates it in Coorg (Karnataka), providing the park's administrative/regional placement.
How to extend
A student could use a map of Coorg/Karnataka to see which major river basins cover that district and check if Cauvery drainage includes the park area.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Western Ghats: A World Heritage Site > p. 56
Strength: 4/5
“The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (5500 km2) of the evergreen forests of Nagarhole, the Bandipur National Park covered with deciduous forest, the Mudumalai National Park and the Mukurthi National Park in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the other important protected areas. Moreover, there are Mudumalai (Coimbatore), Anamalai (Nilgiri District) and Munda Thurai (Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts) tiger reserves in the southern parts of the Western Ghats (Fig. 5.9). A judicious use of resources and conservation practices can improve the resilience characteristics of the ecosystems of this important world heritage site.”
Why relevant
Places Nagarhole within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the Western Ghats, giving its broader physiographic setting.
How to extend
Knowing the park sits in the Western Ghats, a student can consult drainage maps of the Western Ghats to determine which rivers (e.g., Cauvery) drain the immediate region.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Western ghats as a World Heritage site > p. 57
Strength: 4/5
“Western Ghats are covered with tropical and subtropical forests that provide food and natural habitat for the native tribal people. Te region is ecologically sensitive to development. Te Government of India and the state governments have established many protected areas including two biosphere reserves, 13 national parks and several wildlife sanctuaries to protect the endangered species of the region. Te Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (5500 sq km) of the evergreen forests of Nagarhole, the Bandipur National Park covered with deciduous forest, the Tamil Nadu National Park and Mukurthi National Park in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the important protected areas.”
Why relevant
Again identifies Nagarhole as part of the Western Ghats protected areas (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve), reinforcing its location in the Ghats' watershed zone.
How to extend
Combine this with topographic or river-basin maps of the Western Ghats to infer likely downstream river basins for the park's runoff.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Amravathi River > p. 21
Strength: 3/5
“Amravathi river is a tributary of the Kaveri river in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. Having its origin at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, it is 175 km in length. It joins with the Kaveri in Karur District. It irrigates over 60,000 acres of land in Coimbatore. Due to the heavy industrialisation in its basin, the river is highly polluted.”
Why relevant
Describes the Amravathi as a tributary of the Kaveri (Cauvery) arising near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border, giving an example of Western Ghats rivers feeding the Kaveri system.
How to extend
Use this as a pattern example: since other Western Ghats rivers (like Amravathi) feed the Kaveri, a student can check whether Nagarhole's local streams similarly drain into Kaveri tributaries on maps.
CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > The Godavari Basin > p. 21
Strength: 3/5
“The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river. It rises from the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. Its length is about 1500 km. It drains into the Bay of Bengal. Its drainage basin is also the largest among the peninsular rivers. The basin covers parts of Maharashtra (about 50 per cent of the basin area lies in Maharashtra), Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari is joined by a number of tributaries, such as the Purna, the Wardha, the Pranhita, the Manjra, the Wainganga and the Penganga. The last three tributaries are very large.”
Why relevant
Explains that major peninsular rivers (Godavari) rise from the Western Ghats, showing the Ghats are a source region for several basins.
How to extend
Apply this general rule: because the Western Ghats give rise to multiple river systems, a student should verify which specific Ghats-sector (e.g., Coorg/Nilgiris) drains to Cauvery versus other basins using basin maps.
Lists Nagarhole National Park and locates it in Coorg (Karnataka), providing the park's administrative/regional placement.
A student could use a map of Coorg/Karnataka to see which major river basins cover that district and check if Cauvery drainage includes the park area.
Places Nagarhole within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the Western Ghats, giving its broader physiographic setting.
Knowing the park sits in the Western Ghats, a student can consult drainage maps of the Western Ghats to determine which rivers (e.g., Cauvery) drain the immediate region.
Again identifies Nagarhole as part of the Western Ghats protected areas (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve), reinforcing its location in the Ghats' watershed zone.
Combine this with topographic or river-basin maps of the Western Ghats to infer likely downstream river basins for the park's runoff.
Describes the Amravathi as a tributary of the Kaveri (Cauvery) arising near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border, giving an example of Western Ghats rivers feeding the Kaveri system.
Use this as a pattern example: since other Western Ghats rivers (like Amravathi) feed the Kaveri, a student can check whether Nagarhole's local streams similarly drain into Kaveri tributaries on maps.
Explains that major peninsular rivers (Godavari) rise from the Western Ghats, showing the Ghats are a source region for several basins.
Apply this general rule: because the Western Ghats give rise to multiple river systems, a student should verify which specific Ghats-sector (e.g., Coorg/Nilgiris) drains to Cauvery versus other basins using basin maps.
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