Understanding Major Rivers in Central India

The question asks to identify the major river that flows between two significant mountain ranges in India: the Vindhya Range and the Satpura Range. These mountain ranges are located in central India and play a crucial role in the geography and river systems of the region.

Location of Vindhya and Satpura Ranges

• The Vindhya Range is located to the north.
• The Satpura Range is located to the south.
• These ranges run roughly parallel to each other in an east-west direction.

Identifying the River Flowing Between Vindhya and Satpura

Several major rivers flow through or originate in central India. We need to find the one that specifically occupies the valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

• The Narmada River originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
• It flows westward through a rift valley.
• This rift valley is precisely situated between the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south.
• The Narmada River flows for about 1,312 kilometers before draining into the Arabian Sea.

Analyzing Other Options

Let's consider the other rivers mentioned in the options to understand why they do not fit the description:

• Ken River: This is a river in the Bundelkhand region, a tributary of the Yamuna River. It flows through parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and is not located between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.
• Tapti River (or Tapi River): This is another major river of central India. Like the Narmada, it flows westward and also flows through a rift valley. However, the Tapti River flows south of the Satpura Range, between the Satpura Range and the Ajanta Range.
• Sons River (or Son River): This is a major river in central India, a tributary of the Ganges River. It originates near Amarkantak, close to the Narmada's source, but it flows northward and then eastward, not westward between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

Conclusion on the River Location

Based on the geographical location and the courses of these rivers, the Narmada River is the only major river that flows specifically through the valley situated between the Vindhya and the Satpura Mountain ranges.

Therefore, the major river flowing between the Vindhya and the Satpura Mountain ranges is the Narmada.

Revision Table: Central Indian Rivers

Additional Information: Rift Valley Rivers of India

The Narmada and Tapti rivers are notable because they flow through rift valleys. A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or fault. Most major rivers in peninsular India flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal because the general slope of the peninsula is eastward. The Narmada and Tapti are exceptions, flowing westward into the Arabian Sea, largely due to the rift valleys they occupy. These rift valleys were formed by faulting in the Earth's crust.

• Narmada River: Flows through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range and the Satpura Range.
• Tapti River: Flows through a rift valley between the Satpura Range and the Ajanta Range.

Understanding the geological structure, like rift valleys, helps explain the unique westward flow direction of these two significant rivers in central India.