MasteryExams
Geography • Physical GeographyEasy

Which of the following describes the micro-relief feature locally known as 'Choes' that severely impacts the sub-montane districts of Punjab such as Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar?

A. Seasonal torrents that emerge from the Shivalik Hills, carrying heavy sediment loads and causing severe soil erosion✓ Correct Answer
B. Permanent saline depressions formed due to high evaporation rates in arid western tracts
C. Deep linear tectonic trenches created by strike-slip faulting along the basement rock
D. Artificial water reservoirs constructed for canal irrigation and hydroelectric generation

💡 Solution & Explanation

Choes are seasonal hill torrents that originate in the fragile, erodible sandstone hills of the Shivaliks and debouch into the plains of Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar, causing widespread flash floods and fertile soil degradation. Saline depressions are unrelated to the sub-montane torrential systems and occur in different topographic settings. Tectonic trenches do not form these superficial drainage networks, which are entirely the product of surface runoff and loose sediment transport. Choes are natural drainage lines rather than artificial reservoirs, though check dams are frequently built across them for soil conservation. Watershed management of choes is vital for preventing agricultural land loss in northern Punjab.

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