| 2.11.5
The Ganges [fig 2.11.5(a)]
Facts:
|
Continent
|
Asia
|
|
Countries it
flows through
|
India,
Bangladesh
|
|
Length
|
2510
kilometres
|
|
Number of
tributaries
|
2
|
|
Source
|
in the
Himalayas
|
|
Mouth
|
Bay of
Bengal
|
Location:
fig
2.11.5(a)
The
Ganges is the main river system in India. Its source
is found 3000 metres high in the Himalayas, the
world's highest mountains. The Ganges gets its water
from the snow melting in the spring and summer
months. The course of the Ganges takes it across
northern India before it finally reaches its
mouth in the Bay of Bengal. The mouth of the
Ganges is a delta (it is the World's largest delta).
The
Ganges has two main tributaries: the Jumna and the
Brahmaputra. The Jumna is 1358 kilometres in length
and joins the Ganges at the city of Allahabad. The
Brahmaputra is 2900 kilometres long and joins the
Ganges in its delta. The Brahmaputra is
navigable for 1285 kilometres from the sea.
 Fig
2.11.4(b)
The
Brahmaputra River, a tributary of the Ganges.
The
Ganges and Religion:
The
River Ganges is holy to all Hindu people. They
consider the river to be the Ganga Mai which means
Mother Ganges. Every year about one million Hindus
go to the city of Varanasi to bathe in the river.
The city of Allahabad is also another bathing site.
The
Ganges for Food:
The
Ganges is an important source of food. Fish are a
vital food for millions of Indian people.
[Fig 2.11.5(c)]
Fig 2.11.5(c) Fishing
on the Ganges
|
