Ancient Civilization Uses and Techniques of Usage of the Indus River
- How did the ancient civilization use the river? -Average annual flow of rivers in the Indus basin is estimated to be 142 million acre feet (MAF). 104 MAF of water is used for irrigation purposes and 35 MAF flows into the Arabian Sea.
- Irrigation System of the Indus River
- Where does the water flow come from?
-Irrigated areas receive an average of 40 MAF of water annually (5-20 inches of rain).
-Groundwater provides 40% of crop water.
-The people of Indus prospered on the foundations of an agriculture based system of irrigation and fertility, maintained by silt- bearing floods (Hawkes 1973: 267).
-Goods were transported down the river to trade with other civilizations.
-Small pools maintained the water flow to supply water to other crops.
-The monsoon rains (July to September) provide the rest of the flow.
- -River floods twice a year.