Nagavali River

Nagavali River

Nagavali River is one of the main rivers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh which meanders through a number of towns and cities. It hosts a number of irrigation projects including Jhanjavati Project which is the biggest rubber dam of Asia.

Nagavali River forms a prime river of north eastern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha. The origin of Nagavali River lies in the eastern slopes of the Eastern Ghats near Lakhbahal, located at an altitude of 1,300 metres in the Kalahandi district of the Indian state Odisha. Langulya is another name for Nagavali River. Nagavali river basin hosts the Niyamgiri hills where the Bauxite mining has been made proposed. However it has been predicted that from the red mud dump area of the Bauxite refinery the rain water run off can pollute the Nagavali River by enhancing the alkalinity of its water.

Features of Nagavali River
Nagavali River has a length of about 256 kilometres of which 161 kilometres lies in Odisha and the remaining in Andhra Pradesh. The catchment area of the basin encompasses 9,510 square kilometres. This interstate river has river basin areas of 4462 square kilometres and 5048 square kilometres in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively. The average rainfall received by the river basin annually is 1000 millimetres.The uplands of Nagavali River basin have hilly topography and are mainly inhabited by tribal population.

The river flows through Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha.

Tributaries of Nagavali River
Nagavali River has a number of tributaries namely Vegavati, Relligedda, Vonigedda, Suvarnamukhi, Vottigedda, Gumudugedda, Srikona, Sitagurha, Satnala, Baldiya, Barha and Jhanjavati. Suvarnamukhi River has its origin in the hills of Salur mandal from where it flows towards an eastern direction, finally joining the Nagavali at Sangam village situated in the Vangara mandal of Srikakulam district. However the origin of Vegavathi River lies in Pachipenta Hills of Pachipenta Mandal.

Settlements near Nagavali River
Nagavali River flows in the outskirts of Rayagada, a town and district headquarters of the district of Rayagada in Odisha. It also flows through Srikakulam town, the district headquarters in Andhra Pradesh, and finally joins the sea at Kallepalli village, located at a distance of 5 kilometres from Srikakulam town. Hatipathar, near Rayagada, is also located along the course of River Nagavali. The place is famed for its exquisite natural beauty and two gorgeous waterfalls.

Irrigation Projects of Nagavali River
Nagavali River and its tributaries host a number of irrigation projects. Jhanjavati Project is located on a tributary of Nagavali River called Jhanjavati, at Rajyalaxmipuram village in Komarada mandal of Vizianagaram district. It is the first rubber dam of the country and is the biggest of this kind in Asia. Thotapalli Reservoir lies at village Thotapalli in Vizianagaram district. Madduvalasa Reservoir is situated at Madduvalasa village in Vangara mandal of Srikakulam district and has been constructed across Vegavati and Suvarnamukhi tributaries. Narayanapuram Project is situated in Burja mandal in Srikakulam district.

Recently Updated Articles in Geography of India


•	Nilgiri Hills The Nilgiri Hills in South India, often referred to as the "Blue Mountains," are renowned for their lush forests, diverse wildlife, and captivating waterfalls. These hills are a haven for nature enthusiasts.

•	Chatham Island Chatham Island, nestled within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is home to the historic Chatham Saw Mill, Asia`s largest and oldest saw mill. With a rich industrial heritage dating back to 1883, it plays a vital role in meeting the timber needs of the region.

•	Chambal River The Chambal River is an important river in the Malwa plateau and a tributary of the Yamuna River. The Chambal River is renowned for its unique flora and fauna. It is adorned with dams, contributing to regional development.

•	Laterite Soil in India Laterite soil is rich in iron oxides and proves versatile in both agriculture and construction. It is mainly found in plateaus and hilly regions in India such as Western Ghats, Easter Ghats, Chotanagpur plateau, etc.

•	Arabian Sea Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean surrounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran.

E-magazine

Subscribe to E-Magazine on Reference