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Why are the Western Ghats important as a watershed in Karnataka?
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Karnataka
Keshava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka, India.
The Western Ghats are vital to Karnataka as the state's principal watershed, serving as the source for numerous significant river systems.12
The importance of the range in this capacity includes:
- River Origins: The upland terrain of the Ghats, known as Malnad, acts as a catchment area from which many swift streams and major rivers originate. These include the Sharavati River, as well as the Kaveri (Cauvery) and the Tungabhadra, a tributary of the Krishna River.2
- Monsoon Interaction: The range plays a critical role in India’s monsoon weather pattern by trapping moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea. This results in heavy rainfall on the seaward slopes, which feeds the river systems.13
- Energy Generation: Due to the steep descent of the rivers flowing from the crest of the mountains, the region provides opportunities for harnessing water for electric power generation.13
By capturing and directing this precipitation, the Western Ghats sustain the water supply for the eastward-sloping plains of the Karnataka Plateau, known as the Maidan.2