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DRAINAGE PATTERN


A geometric arrangement of streams in a region; determined by slope, differing rock resistance to weathering and erosion, climate, hydrologic variability, and structural controls of the landscape is known as a drainage pattern. In other words, drainage pattern refers to a design which a river and its tributaries form together, from its source to its mouth. The factors controlling the pattern of drainage in a region include the topography, slope, structural control, nature of rocks, tectonic activities, supply of water, and above all, the geological history of that region. In India, the following types of drainage patterns are found: