TheGanges( / ˈ ɡ æ n dʒ iː z / GAN -jeez), alsoGanga(Hindi: [ˈɡəŋɡaː]), is a trans-boundary riverof Indiaand Bangladesh. The 2,525 km (1,569 mi) river rises in the western Himalayasin the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plainof North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the third largest river in the World by discharge. The Ganges is the most sacred river to Hindus [ 4 ]and is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. [ 5 ]It is worshipped as the goddess Gangain Hinduism. [ 6 ]It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, [ 7 ] Kannauj, [ 7 ] Kara, Kashi, Allahabad, Murshidabad, Munger, Baharampur, Kampilyaand Kolkata) have been located on its banks. The Ganges was ranked as the fifth most polluted river of the world in 2007, [ 8 ]Pollution threatens not only humans, but also more than 140 fish species, 90 amphibian species and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. [ 8 ]The Ganga Action Plan, an environmental initiative to clean up the river, has been a major failure thus far, [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ]due to corruption and lack of technical expertise, [ 12 ]lack of good environmental planning, [ 13 ]and lack of support from religious authorities. [ 14 ] The Himalayanheadwaters of the Ganges river in the Garhwalregion of Uttarakhand, India. The headstreams and rivers are labeled in italics; the heights of the mountains, lakes, and towns are displayed in parentheses in metres. The Ganges begins at the confluenceof the Bhagirathiand Alaknandarivers. The Bhagirathi is considered to be the true sourcein Hindu culture and mythology, although the Alaknanda is longer. [ 15 ] [ 16 ]The headwaters of the Alakananda are formed by snowmelt from such peaks as Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Kamet. The Bhagirathi rises at the foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh, at an elevation of 3,892 m (12,769 ft). [ 17 ] Although many small streams comprise the headwaters of the Ganges, the six longest and their five confluences are considered sacred. The six headstreams are the Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini, and Bhagirathirivers. The five confluences, known as the Panch Prayag, are all along the Alaknanda. They are, in downstream order, Vishnuprayag, where the Dhauliganga joins the Alaknanda; Nandprayag, where the Nandakini joins; Karnaprayag, where the Pindar joins, Rudraprayag, where the Mandakini joins; and finally, Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi joins the Alaknanda to form the Ganges River proper. [ 15 ] After flowing 250 kilometres (160 mi) [ 17 ]through its narrow Himalayan valley, the Ganges emerges from the mountains at Rishikesh, then debouchesonto the Gangetic Plainat the pilgrimage town of Haridwar. [ 15 ]At Haridwar, a dam diverts some of its waters into the Ganges Canal, which irrigates the Doabregion of Uttar Pradesh, whereas the river, whose course has been roughly southwest until this point, now begins to flow southeast through the plains of northern India. The Ganges follows an 800-kilometre (500 mi) arching course passing through the cities of Kannauj, Farukhabad, and Kanpur. Along the way it is joined by the Ramganga, which contributes an average annual flow of about 500 m3/s (18,000 cu ft/s). [ 18 ]The Ganges joins the Yamunaat the Triveni Sangamat Allahabad, a holy confluence in Hinduism. At their confluence the Yamuna is larger than the Ganges, contributing about 2,950 m3/s (104,000 cu ft/s), [ 18 ]or about 58.5% of the combined flow. [ 19 ] Now flowing east, the river meets the Tamsa River(also calledTons), which flows north from the Kaimur Rangeand contributes an average flow of about 190 m3/s (6,700 cu ft/s). After the Tamsa the Gomti Riverjoins, flowing south from the Himalayas. The Gomti contributes an average annual flow of about 234 m3/s (8,300 cu ft/s). Then the Ghaghara River(Karnali River), also flowing south from the Himalayas of Nepal, joins. The Ghaghara(Karnali), with its average annual flow of about 2,990 m3/s (106,000 cu ft/s), is the largest tributary of the Ganges. After the Ghaghara(Karnali) confluence the Ganges is joined from the south by the Son River, contributing about 1,000 m3/s (35,000 cu ft/s). The Gandaki River, then the Kosi River, join from the north flowing from Nepal, contributing about 1,654 m3/s (58,400 cu ft/s) and 2,166 m3/s (76,500 cu ft/s), respectively. The Kosi is the third largest tributary of the Ganges, after the Ghaghara(Karnali) and Yamuna. [ 18 ] Along the way between Allahabadand Malda, West Bengal, the Ganges passes the towns of Chunar, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Patna, Bhagalpur, Ballia, Buxar, Simaria, Sultanganj,
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 01:45:29 +0000
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