Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamagalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanand Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Contents14
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 and 4 only
- C1, 3 and 4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (C) 1, 3 and 4 only
The Cauvery River basin covers parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Let's check which protected areas fall in this basin:
Nagarhole National Park — IN CAUVERY BASIN: Located in Karnataka, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. It's in the Cauvery basin area.
Papikonda National Park — NOT IN CAUVERY BASIN: Located in Andhra Pradesh, and the River GODAVARI flows through it — completely different river basin.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve — IN CAUVERY BASIN: Located in Tamil Nadu's Erode district, at the confluence of Western and Eastern Ghats. It adjoins other protected areas including the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, and falls within the Cauvery basin.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary — IN CAUVERY BASIN: Located in Kerala's Wayanad district. The Kabini River (a tributary of the Cauvery) flows through this sanctuary, placing it in the Cauvery basin.
Answer: C (1, 3 and 4 only).
Key Takeaway: Papikonda = Godavari basin (Andhra Pradesh). The rest — Nagarhole, Sathyamangalam, and Wayanad — are all in the Cauvery basin. Remember: Papikonda is the odd one out.
The Cauvery basin spans three states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala) and contains multiple protected areas that students must distinguish from reserves in other river basins.
Papikonda National Park is the trap option - it sits in Andhra Pradesh along the Godavari River, completely outside the Cauvery basin.
UPSC is testing whether students can map protected areas to their correct river basins, a skill that requires knowing both geography and tributary systems.
Cauvery River Basin
Geography Cauvery basin Cauvery
Cauvery River Basin: Geography & Protected Areas
Cauvery flows through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala
Major tributaries: Kabini, Bhavani, Amaravati, Hemavati
3 protected areas in basin: Nagarhole (Karnataka), Sathyamangalam (Tamil Nadu), Wayanad (Kerala)
Total basin area: 87,900 sq km
Basin Overview
The Cauvery is a major peninsular river flowing eastward from the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal. It originates at Talakaveri in Karnataka's Coorg district and covers three southern states before entering the sea near Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu.
State-wise Coverage
State | Basin Area (%) | Key Cities | Major Tributaries |
|---|---|---|---|
Karnataka | 43% | Mysuru, Mandya | Kabini, Hemavati, Shimsha |
Tamil Nadu | 54% | Erode, Tiruchy, Thanjavur | Bhavani, Amaravati, Noyyal |
Kerala | 3% | Wayanad region | Kabini (shared with Karnataka) |
Basin Map
Source: India-WRIS — cauvery - INDIA WRIS WIKI · indiawris.gov.in
Basin Characteristics
Length: 805 km from Talakaveri to Bay of Bengal
Delta: Fertile Cauvery Delta in Tamil Nadu known as 'Granary of South India'
Seasonal flow: Depends on both southwest and northeast monsoons
Major dams: KRS Dam, Mettur Dam, Kabini Dam
Protected Areas in Cauvery Basin
Geography Nagarhole National park Sathyamagalam Tiger Reserve Wayanand Wildlife Sanctuary
Protected Areas within Cauvery River Basin
Three protected areas lie in Cauvery basin: Nagarhole, Sathyamangalam, Wayanad
All three are part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve ecosystem
Kabini River connects Nagarhole and Wayanad sanctuaries
Cauvery Basin Protected Areas
Protected Area | State | Type | River Connection | Key Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nagarhole National Park | Karnataka | National Park | Kabini River flows through | Tigers, elephants, leopards |
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve | Tamil Nadu | Tiger Reserve | Bhavani River (Cauvery tributary) | Tigers, elephants, sloth bears |
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary | Kerala | Wildlife Sanctuary | Kabini River forms boundary | Elephants, tigers, gaur |
Connectivity & Ecosystem
Forms contiguous elephant corridor across three states
Part of larger Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats biodiversity complex
Sathyamangalam connects Western and Eastern Ghats at their junction
All three areas support significant tiger populations
Nagarhole is also called Rajiv Gandhi National Park - both names refer to same area
Wayanad spelling often confused - it's Wayanad, not Wayanand
Sathyamangalam became Tiger Reserve in 2013 - relatively recent designation
Papikonda National Park
Geography Papikonda National Park
Papikonda National Park: Godavari Basin Location
Located in Andhra Pradesh, not Cauvery basin
Godavari River flows through the park
Part of Eastern Ghats mountain range
Key Facts
Papikonda National Park is located in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari River flows directly through this park, making it part of the Godavari basin, not the Cauvery basin.
Geographic Details
Location: Andhra Pradesh (East & West Godavari districts)
River system: Godavari and its tributaries
Terrain: Eastern Ghats hills and river valleys
Significance: Part of Godavari Gorge landscape
Papikonda = Godavari basin - this is the key trap in basin-related questions
Don't confuse with Papikonda Hills - same region, different administrative units
Located in Andhra Pradesh, not in southern Cauvery states
Major River Basins of India
Geography
Major River Basins & Their Protected Areas
12 major river basins in India with area >20,000 sq km each
Ganga basin is largest, Cauvery among major peninsular basins
Many national parks located along major rivers
Major Peninsular River Basins
River Basin | States Covered | Notable Protected Areas | Basin Area |
|---|---|---|---|
Godavari | Maharashtra, Telangana, AP, Chhattisgarh | Papikonda NP, Indravati NP | 312,812 sq km |
Krishna | Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana | Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam TR | 258,948 sq km |
Cauvery | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala | Nagarhole NP, Sathyamangalam TR, Wayanad WLS | 87,900 sq km |
Narmada | Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra | Kanha NP, Pench NP | 98,796 sq km |
River Basins Map
Source: India-WRIS — river_basins - INDIA WRIS WIKI · indiawris.gov.in
Basin vs River length - Godavari is longest peninsular river but Ganga has largest basin
State coverage - many rivers flow through multiple states, creating inter-state disputes
Protected areas often named after local features, not the river - eg. Papikonda sounds generic but is specifically Godavari basin