Mahanadi

One of the major sources of water in the state of Orissa is the River Mahanadi. The river has its origin in the state of Chattisgarh and flows through several districts of Orissa to meet the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The river forms its delta on the eastern fringe of the state of Orissa.

The Mahanadi river waters several districts of the state of Orissa. The river has its tributaries, Tel and Hasdo that also flow in the state. The river is a major source of electricity in Orissa. The Hirakud Dam, built in the year 1956, is situated at Sambalpur and stretches over a length of 55 kilometers. The dam restrains the flow of the river and generates a high power of electricity. The Mahanadi river has a huge catchment area in the state depositing rich alluvial silt that facilitates agriculture in Orissa. The waters of the river drains an area of 132,100 square kilometers.

Passing through the ridges and gorges of the Eastern Ghats, the Mahanadi opens its mouth into the Bay of Bengal at the False Point. The river segregates into several channels forming a huge delta. Several religious centers have developed near the mouth of the river Mahanadi. The Mahanadi is a major source of water in the state of Orissa which is heavily dependent on the stream.