EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -A floodplain (or floodplain) is a generally flat area of land next to a river or stream. It stretches from the banks of the river to the outer edges of the valley. A floodplain consists of two parts. The first is the main channel of the river itself, called the floodway.

Detailed explanation-2: -Flood-plains are treeless beds of a river. These are found during the dry season when the river shrinks. It is a treeless bed as every year when it rains heavily, this bed is filled with water allowing no permanent trees or plants to grow here. The river flows amidst it during the dry season.

Detailed explanation-3: -Flood plains are formed when the meander eroses sideways as it travels downstream. When a river breaks its banks, it leaves behind layers of alluvium (silt) which are gradually being built up to create the floor of the plain.

Detailed explanation-4: -Flood plains are generally densely populated because rivers are a perennial source of water, thus people tend to live in areas where water is available. Land near the river is very fertile and good for agriculture, making it a great source of income.

Detailed explanation-5: -The most flood-prone areas in India are the Brahmaputra and Ganga River basins in the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains in North and Northeast India, which carry 60 per cent of the nation’s total river flow.