The Narmada River flows through a rift valley between which two mountain ranges?

MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The Narmada River is one of the major rivers in India that flows from east to west.
It originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows through a rift valley.
This rift valley is a depressed block of land situated between two mountain ranges: the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south.
This unique geological formation dictates the river's course towards the Arabian Sea.

Option B: The Aravalli Range is in northwestern India (Rajasthan), and the Western Ghats are along the western coast, much further south. The Narmada does not flow between these two geographically distant ranges.
Option C: The Eastern and Western Ghats are major mountain ranges that border the eastern and western coastlines of the Indian peninsula, respectively. The Narmada flows through central India, not between these coastal ranges.
Option D: The Narmada River flows north of the Satpura Range. The Western Ghats are a separate range running along the coast. The river does not flow in a valley formed between the Satpura and the Western Ghats.

Visual 1: Map of India - A map highlighting the course of the Narmada River and the locations of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges to clearly show the river flowing between them.
Visual 2: Diagram - A cross-sectional diagram illustrating a rift valley, showing a central block of land (graben) that has subsided between two highland blocks (horsts), representing the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indian Geography: Major Rivers and Mountain Ranges as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests general knowledge, a component of the syllabus for many nursing entrance examinations.
While not directly related to clinical nursing practice, a broad general awareness is considered important for aspiring healthcare professionals.
What if the question asked about the river that flows south of the Satpura range? The answer would be the Tapi (Tapti) River, which also flows westwards in a parallel rift valley.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key geographical entities in the question: the 'Narmada River' and the 'rift valley'.
Recall or visualize the physical map of India.
Locate the Narmada River in central India. Note its westward flow.
Identify the prominent mountain ranges in central India that are situated to the north and south of the river's course.
You will find the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south, forming the boundaries of the rift valley through which the Narmada flows.
Compare this geographical fact with the given options to select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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