Krishna River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Krishna
Krishna river gorge by Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Drainage basin of the Krishna in the South Indian Peninsula
Country	India
State	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
Region	South India
Physical characteristics
Main source	Near Mahabaleshwar, Jor village Satara district, Maharashtra, India 914 m (2,999 ft)Geographic headwaters 17°59′18.8″N 73°38′16.7″E / 17.988556°N 73.637972°E / 17.988556; 73.637972
River mouth	Bay Of Bengal Hamsaladeevi, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India 0 m (0 ft) 15°44′10.8″N 80°55′12.1″E / 15.736333°N 80.920028°E / 15.736333; 80.920028
Length	1,400 km (870 mi)approx.
Discharge (location 2)	Location: Vijayawada (1901–1979 average), max (2009), min (1997) Minimum rate: 13.52 m3/s (477 cu ft/s) Average rate: 1,641.74 m3/s (57,978 cu ft/s) Maximum rate: 31,148.53 m3/s (1,100,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Basin size	258,948 km2 (99,980 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Musi, Paleru, Munneru Right: Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhaganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra

The Krishna River is the fifth longest river in India. It is 1,300 kilometres (810 miles) long. It is the second longest river in South India. The river is the major source of irrigation in the states of Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The tributaries of this river include Bhima, Tungabhadra, Veena, Koyna, Panchganga, Munneru, and Musi.

Krishna river is one of the rivers whose water energy is harnessed to a large extent by various hydro electric power stations in India.

It causes heavy soil erosion during the monsoon floods. It flows fast and furious, often reaching depths of over 75 feet (23 m). In October 2009, heavy floods occurred, isolating 350 villages and leaving millions homeless, which is believed to be first occurrence in 1000 years. The entire city of Kurnool was immersed in approximately 10 ft (3 m) water for nearly 3 days.

Places and temples

A small stream of the river flows from a cow-face (gomukh) in a temple

This river is respected by Hindus as sacred. The river is also believed to remove all sins of people by taking a bath in this river. The centre of attraction is the Krishna Pushkaram fair which is held once in twelve years on the banks of the Krishna river. There are many pilgrimage places in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the course of the river.

The first holy place on the river Krishna is at Wai, known for the Mahaganpati Mandir and Kashivishweshwar temple. Temples like Dattadeva temple, which is worshipped by the people of Maharashtra, are located on the banks of Krishna at Narsobawadi and Audumbar near Sangli. Yadur is one of the important holy places in Karnataka which is located on the bank of krishna.

The temple Vedadri

Veerabhadra temple is the famous temple, many devotees visit this place. Also, located on the banks of the river Krishna are the Sangameshwar Shiva temple at Haripur, goddess Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada and Ramling temple near Sangli, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Amareshwara Swamy Temple, Dattadeva temple, Sangameshwara Shiva temples at Alampur & Gadwal in Telangana.

Flora and fauna

Blackbuck within Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary

Wide spread area near to the Krishna river holds the rich flora and fauna. The last surviving mangrove forests in the Krishna estuary have been declared as the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is the home to the large number of resident and migratory birds.

Otter, crocodile, spotted deer, sambar, black buck, snake, lizards and jackal can also be spotted in the sanctuary.

The following are few other wildlife sanctuaries located in the Krishna basin.

Images for kids

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  Down stream view of Prakasam Barrage.

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  Krishna river near Vijayawada

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  Panoramic view of Ujjani or Bhima Dam

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  Tungabhadra Dam near Hosapete

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  Kudalasangama, North Karnataka

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  Pre Historic sites of Middle Krishna-Tungabhadra Valley in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

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  Gokak Falls on Ghataprabha river

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  Panorama of Prakasam Barrage and Railway bridges on Krishna near Vijayawada

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  NSRS Srisailam Dam

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  Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Gates view

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  Almatti Dam with its right bank power house

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  Krishna close to its origin at Menawali, near Wai, Satara district, Maharashtra.18th century, Maratha statesman, Nana Fadnavis built the Ghat and a palace here.This location has been used in many Hindi movies.

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  The Deccan Traps near Pune

See also

In Spanish: Río Krishná para niños