gs1medium
The Brahmaputra, Irrawady and Mekong rivers originate in Tibet and flow through narrow and parallel mountain ranges in their upper reaches. Of these rivers, Brahmaputra makes a "U" turn in its course to flow into India. This "U" turn is due to
- A.Uplift of folded Himalayan series
- B.Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas
- C.Geo-tectonic disturbance in the tertiary folded mountain chains
- D.Both (A) and (B) above
▶ Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: B. Syntaxial bending of geologically young Himalayas
The "U" turn made by the Brahmaputra River is a classic example of syntaxis, where the mountain ranges bend sharply. This phenomenon is particularly observed in the geologically young and actively forming Himalayas, where crustal movements and compressional forces lead to such deflections in river courses. The uplift and folding of the Himalayan terrain significantly influence these geomorphic processes.
Source: UPSC gs1 2011