earth science

Hogenakkal Falls

Hogenakkal Falls is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hogenakkal Falls rather than just read about it. In short: Hogenakkal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the Kaveri river on the border between Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu and Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. It is located 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri and 199 km (124 mi) from Chamrajnagar.

Key takeaways

Hogenakkal Falls belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Hogenakkal Falls to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Hogenakkal Falls from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Hogenakkal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the Kaveri river on the border between Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu and Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. It is located 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri and 199 km (124 mi) from Chamrajnagar. The Government of Tamil Nadu made a proposal to convert the falls into providing drinking water for the state.

Etymology According to the consensus, the name Hogenakal is derived from Kannada (ಹೊಗೆನಕಲ್) and means ‘Smoky Rocks’. The river when falls on the rock below, the gushing force of water resembles like smoke emanating from the rocks. It is also called as Marikottayam by the people of Tamil Nadu. However, another etymology related to the Tamil language has recently emerged. Some argue, in relation to the modern Pure Tamil politics in the state of Tamil Nadu, that Hogenakkal is derived from the Tamil Uguneer Kal (உகுநீர் கல் ; possibly meaning ‘Milky water Rocks’).

Geology Hogenakkal Falls consists of two magmatic dyke made of pyroxenite and interrupted by carbonatite. The rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world, with the carbonatities dating around 1,994 ± 76 million years ago (in the Orosirian).

History Hogenakkal falls is mentioned in Sangam Literature as Thalaineer aruvi (தலைநீர் அருவி). All the areas around this waterfalls are called Thalaineer Naadu (தலைநீர் நாடு). It was ruled by the King named Adiyaman Neduman Anji. References to this King and the Falls are found in the Sangam Literatures like Purananooru (புறநானூறு), Agananooru (அகநானூறு), Kurunthogai (குறுந்தொகை) etc.

River

The Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in the Western Ghats of south India and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as 20 m (66 ft) and is said to sound like continual thunder. The river carries sediment which makes the downriver land fertile. At Hogenakkal the river spreads out over a wide area of sandy beaches, then flows south to the Mettur Dam and creates a 60 sq mi (160 km2). lake called Stanley Reservoir. Built in 1934, this project improved irrigation and provided hydropower.

Weather The best season to visit is soon after the monsoons, when the river is in full spate. But some tourists prefer to visit during off-season to skip the crowd. The water temperature in summer varies between 23–34 °C (73–93 °F) while during the winter it ranges from 13–27 °C (55–81 °F).

Boating

Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. This is the main source of income for boat operators. The coracles are about 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) in diameter and can carry eight people at a time. These coracles are made of bamboo, and with all materials available takes about a day to build. The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic. Use of plastics in the Hogenakkal vicinity, not just for boats, has been criticised due to problems with pollution. These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making them unique. The coracles are locally called parisal in Tamil and teppa or harigolu in Kannada. Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include katla, robu, kendai, keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby. After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.

Hogenakkal water project

Hogenakal Falls is the location for the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government. The objective of this project is to provide safe drinking water to the urban and rural areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. In February 2008, The Japan Bank for International Cooperation agreed to fund the Rs 1,340-crore project.

Gallery

See also List of waterfalls List of waterfalls in India Hogenakkal

References

External links

Protest against `encroachment' of island near Hogenekal Falls

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hogenakkal Falls

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hogenakkal Falls claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hogenakkal Falls before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hogenakkal Falls ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hogenakkal Falls

In research: Hogenakkal Falls appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Hogenakkal Falls in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Hogenakkal Falls is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Dharmapuri district, Geologic formations of India, Kaveri, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Hogenakkal Falls outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Hogenakkal Falls” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Hogenakkal Falls in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Hogenakkal Falls means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Hogenakkal Falls out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hogenakkal Falls in simple terms?

Why does Hogenakkal Falls matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hogenakkal Falls?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hogenakkal Falls.