Ganga River, India

Abstract

Abstract The Himalayas, the great mountain chain of Asia are the source of three major river systems of the world, the Indus, the Ganga (or the Ganges), and the Brahmputra. The large and fertile plains of the Indus and Ganga in the subcontinent of Northern India have been the cradles of one of the greatest ancient civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization. The River Ganga which occupies nearly one‐third of the geographical area of India is the most important and sacred river of India. The catchment area of the Ganga falls in four countries, India, Nepal, Tibet (China), and Bangladesh. Many important tributaries of the Ganga originate in the Himalayas in India and Nepal; Bangladesh lies in the deltaic region. The total length of the river is 2525 km which makes it the fifteenth longest river in Asia and the thirtyninth longest in the world. The combined basin of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh is also known by the name Greater Ganga Basin . The major part of the geographical area of Ganga Basin lies in India. Though the headwaters region of the Ganga in the Himalayas is dotted by a number of mighty tributaries, the Bhagirathi river that rises from the Gangotri glacier near Gomukh at an elevation of about 7010 m above mean sea level is traditionally considered the source of River Ganga.