Bhakra Nangal Dam: River Identification

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is a renowned multipurpose dam complex situated in northern India. It's a critical component of India's water resource management, providing irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control.

The question asks for the specific river on which the Bhakra Nangal Dam is constructed. This dam is a major feat of engineering, built across the mighty Satluj River.

Bhakra Nangal Dam: Option Analysis

Let's examine the given options to understand why Satluj is the correct answer:

• Satluj: This is the correct river. The Bhakra Dam, the main part of the complex, is located on the Satluj River, near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The Nangal Dam is downstream. The Satluj River (also known as Sutlej) is one of the five tributaries of the Indus River.
• Ravi: The Ravi River is another major river in the Punjab region. While significant dams like the Thein Dam are built on the Ravi, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is not associated with it.
• Yamuna: The Yamuna is a major northern tributary of the Ganges (Ganga). It flows through states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Dams like the Lakhwar-Vyasi dam are on the Yamuna, but not the Bhakra Nangal Dam.
• Ganga: The Ganga (Ganges) is India's longest and holiest river. While numerous dams exist on the Ganga and its tributaries, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is specifically located on the Satluj, which is part of the Indus river system, not the Ganga system.

Therefore, the Bhakra Nangal Dam harnesses the power of the Satluj River.

The dam's reservoir, known as Gobind Sagar Lake, is formed by the Bhakra dam on the Satluj River.