Journey of a River – Class 5 The World Around Us Chapter 2 Notes & NCERT PDF

Introduction

This chapter is told by a river in its own voice! It begins with a riddle-poem:

I have no feet, but I travel far,

Through fields and forests, under moon and star.

I quench your thirst and help plants grow,

From mountain to sea, I quietly flow.

Who am I?

The answer: "Yes! I am a river. I am Godavari." The Godavari tells us about its journey from the mountains to the sea, how it supports life, and the problems it faces.

What We Learn

Where the Godavari begins and flows

Perennial and seasonal rivers

The Godavari flows all year round, so it is a perennial river. Rivers that flow only in the rainy season are seasonal rivers.

The life it holds

The river passes through forests with the tiger, barking deer, Indian golden gecko and red sandalwood trees. Near the sea it spreads into many small streams that form a delta. There, freshwater meets salty sea water in the Coringa Mangrove Forests, where its journey ends.

The Godavari is called Dakshina Ganga (Ganga of the south) and is sacred. Stories about it come from the Ramayana and the Puranas, and people take holy dips at Nashik during the Godavari Pushkaram.

How the river supports lives

People have always built homes near rivers. The river gives water for drinking, cooking and washing, farming, factories, fishing and boating. Its water reaches people through pipes and canals. Ecotourism means visiting natural places to enjoy and learn without harming them.

Dams

There are more than 900 dams on the Godavari that store water for drinking, crops and electricity, even in dry seasons. A dam is like a giant wall that blocks the river and stores water in a reservoir. But the stored water can flood land that was home to animals and people, and many people have to leave their homes.

Pollution

Waste, plastic and dirty water from homes and factories pollute the river. Even when water looks clean, it may carry harmful chemicals that dissolve in it. Fertilisers washed from farms make water plants grow too fast until they cover the surface like a "green blanket", which chokes the fish.

Floods and droughts

With too much rain, the river overflows its banks and floods houses, fields and roads. Trees slow rainwater and help soil soak it up. With no trees, water runs off faster and causes floods. When a river runs dry, people and animals may have to leave in search of water.

In 2019, Chennai needed water trains because its reservoirs dried up. In 2022, heavy rain flooded Bengaluru.

Activities in the Chapter

Key Words

Connect to Your Life

Which river flows through your state? Is it used for farming, drinking or electricity? Ask elders how clean the rivers and ponds were when they were young.

Common Mix-ups

Let Us Reflect (Hints)