Correct Answer: Option A - Ganga and its tributaries
The Ganga river system is responsible for the formation of extensive meanders and oxbow lakes in the northern plains of India.
This occurs due to several geographical factors:
Mature Stage of River: The Ganga and its tributaries flow through the flat alluvial plains of northern India, which represents the mature stage of river development where meandering is common.
Low Gradient: The gentle slope and low gradient of the northern plains allow the Ganga river system to develop pronounced meanders.
Sediment Deposition: The river carries a large amount of silt and sediment, which gets deposited along the banks, causing the river to change course frequently.
Formation Process: Meanders develop when the river erodes the outer banks and deposits sediment on the inner banks. Over time, as the meanders become more pronounced, the river may cut through the narrow neck of a meander, abandoning the loop and forming an oxbow lake.
The Indo-Gangetic plain, formed by the Ganga river system, contains numerous examples of these geographical features, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal where the river flows through extensive flat terrain.
