Thamirabarani River
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The Thamirabarani River (also spelled Tamaraparani and Tamiraparani) originate from a peak in hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk and flows through the Tirunelveli district of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.[1]
The Thamirabarani contains traces of copper, hence its name (Thamiram means copper in Tamil). The copper content gives it a distinct reddish shade. The river has also been historically known as Podhigai.
It originates more than 2,000 metres above sea-level in Agasti Hill, a part of the Annamalai range on the eastern slopes of Western Ghats in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, near the peaks of Aduppukkal Mottai, Agastya Malai and Cherumunji Mottai. It flows roughly east and enters the Gulf of Mannar of the Bay of Bengal near Palayakayal. At 130km it is a relatively short river.
The Thamirabarani basin is situated between latitudes 8.21' N and 9.13' N and east of longitude 77.10' E. The 40 metre Vanatheertham waterfalls are located close to the origin of the main river. The Papanasam Reservoir is 16km downstream. It is fed both by monsoons and by its tributaries.
In the year 1992, there was an unexpected flood in Thamirabarani, which claims hundreds of lives.
The river is mentioned in ancient Sangam and Tamil texts.[1]
[edit] Tributaries
Distances indicate approximate distance along the main river where the tributaries join.
- The Peyar, Ullar, Karaiar, Pambar Rivers all join upstream of the Papanasam Reservoir.
- Servalar River (22km).
- Manimuthar River (36km) originates in the Agathimalai Ranges and joins near Ambasamudram.
- Gadana River (43km), itself fed by the Jambunadhi and Ramanadhi Rivers. The Gadana has 6 anicuts and a reservoir of 9,970,000 m³, and irrigates 38.87 km² of wetlands. The Ramanadhi has 7 anicuts, a reservoir of 4,300,000 m³, and irrigates 20.23 km² of wetlands.
- Pachaiyar River (61km) joins near Gopalasamudram. It originates from the Kalakkadu reserve forests at about 1,300 m above sea level. It has 12 anicuts and irrigates 61.51 km² of wet and dry lands.
- Chittar River (73km) runs almost parallel to Thamirabarani till its confluence.
[edit] Irrigation
The many anicuts, dams and reservoirs on the Thamirabarani river, along with those on the Manimuthar River, provide a large proportion of the water for irrigation and power generation for Tirunelveli District.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Rivers of Western Ghats - Origin of Tamiraparani. Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
- ^ Tirunelveli District Irrigation. Retrieved on September 24, 2006.
