Centripetal Drainage Systems
- Definition: Streams flow inward from all directions into a central depression or basin, forming a closed drainage system.
- Key Features:
- Usually found in basins, lakes, or depressions.
- Water does not flow out to the sea; ends in lakes, salt flats, or inland depressions.
- Examples:
- Loktak Lake, Manipur (India) – Freshwater lake receiving inflow from surrounding streams.
- Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan (India) – Salt lake in arid zone; fed by seasonal streams.
- Dead Sea Basin (Middle East) – Jordan River and other tributaries flow into the closed basin.
- Great Basin, USA – Extensive inland drainage area with no outlet to the ocean.
- Kathmandu Valley, Nepal – Streams descend from surrounding hills into central valley.
- Baghmati River tributaries, Nepal – Regional centripetal pattern.
- Ladakh and Tibet regions – High-altitude streams converge into local depressions.
- Ramgarh Crater, India – Localized basin showing centripetal drainage.
Radial Drainage Systems
- Definition: Streams flow outward in all directions from a central elevated point, usually a hill, plateau, or volcanic cone.
- Key Features:
- Typically seen on volcanic cones, plateaus, or isolated hills.
- Water flows away from the central high point toward lower areas.
- Examples:
- Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh (India) – Source of Narmada, Son, and Mahanadi rivers; classic radial pattern.
- Girnar Hills, Gujarat (India) – Small hill producing radial drainage.
- Mikir Hills, Assam (India) – Rivers flow outward from highlands.
- Deccan Volcanic Plateau, India – Rivers radiate from plateau surface.
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa – Volcanic mountain with streams radiating in all directions.
Quick Tip for Remembering:
- Centripetal → Central basin → Streams converge → Lakes/salt flats
- Radial → Raised point → Streams diverge → Rivers flowing outward