Ganga River System: Origin, Drainage, Tributaries & More
The Ganga River System: The Ganga Originates from the Himalayan mountains and is super important for the people there. The melting snow from the Himalayas forms the basis of the river Ganga. Ganga flows through various states of India, covering some parts of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Haryana.
In this article, we will discuss the Ganga river system in detail. The Ganga River is of great significance to India’s economic perspective.
Overview of Ganga River System
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
Source | Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand |
Length | Approximately 2,525 km (1,569 miles) |
Drainage Area | About 1,086,000 sq km (419,300 sq miles) |
Main Tributaries | Left Bank: Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi Right Bank: Yamuna, Son |
Major Cities | Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Varanasi, Patna |
Dams and Barrages | Tehri Dam, Farakka Barrage, Narora Barrage, Kanpur Barrage |
Flora and Fauna | Home to the Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, Freshwater turtles, and numerous fish and bird species |
Cultural Significance | Considered sacred by Hindus; site of numerous religious ceremonies and festivals |
Environmental Challenges | Pollution from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources; riverbank erosion; habitat destruction |
Ganga River System Map
The Ganga River System
The Ganga River system is enormous worldwide and covers most of India. The soil near the Ganga River is fertile, helpful in agriculture, and supports big industries.
- The River Ganga represents the dendritic drainage pattern.
- The Ganga River is the home to many plants and animals.
- Most employment in India comes from the banks of the river Ganga.
- The largest delta was created when the river Ganga and the Brahmaputra met and is called the Sundarbans delta.
- Ganga flows south and east from the Himalayas, forming the canyon as it leaves the mountains.
What is the Ganga Drainage System?
The Ganga Drainage System includes the river Ganga and its many tributaries. It is one of the iconic and largest river systems in the world, extending over India, Bangladesh, and the boundaries of Nepal. Ganga River drains into the Bay of Bengal through the Sundarban Delta.
Bhagirathi
The Bhaigirathi river covers a big part of the River Ganga. The best features of it are listed below:
- In the 16th Century, when the Ganga river shifted its bed eastwards, Bhagirathi came into existence.
- The Bhagirathi covers upto 193 kilometres and then joins the Alaknanda in Devprayag.
- It covers an area upto 6,921 kilometers.
- Many other rivers add water to Bhagirathi, namely Kedar Ganga and Kakora Gad.
- Other Rivers that add water to Bhagirathi include Jalandhari Gad, Jadh Ganga, Asi Ganga, Siyan Gad, and Bhilangana river.
Alaknanda
The Alaknanda River originates when the two glaciers meet in Uttrakhand.
The following are the key features of the Alaknanada River:
- It travels upto 195 kilometres and joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag.
- The river covers an area upto 10,882 kilometers.
- When the river joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag, they become the Ganges river together.
- In Uttrakhand, there are five meeting points where the rivers join Alaknanada called the Panch Prayags.
- Saraswati, Pindar, Dhauliganga, and Nandini are the rivers that join from the left and the Mandakini River from the right.
Rishiganga:
The Rishiganga originates from the Nanda Devi Mountains, located in Uttrakhand, and goes through a national park where it meets Dhaulganga West at Raini near Chamoli.
Dhauliganga:
The Dhauliganga rises from the largest glacier, Raikana Glacier, Basudhara Lake in Uttrakhand. This Lake is way up in the mountains at 5,070 meters near Niti Pass in Chamoli district. As it flows down, many other rivers join it, finally meeting the river Alaknanda at the village called Vishnuprayag.
Tributaries of the Ganga River
Many streams join the river Ganga in different locations in different parts of India, called the tributaries of the river Ganga. They are further divided into the right bank and the left bank tributaries.
Right Bank Tributaries of River Ganga
The following table gives information about the right bank tributaries of the River Ganga:
Name of Right Tributaries |
Description |
---|---|
Yamuna |
|
Karmanasa |
|
Punpun |
|
Son |
|
Damodar River |
|
Falgu |
|
Kiul |
|
Chandan |
|
Ajay |
|
Rupnarayan |
|
Tamsa |
|
Left Bank Tributaries of River Ganga
The following table gives information about the left bank tributaries of the River Ganga:
Ramganga |
|
---|---|
Gomati River |
|
Ghargra River |
|
Kosi River |
|
Mahananda River |
|
Burhi Gandak River |
|
Gandak River |
|
Schemes Related to Clean The Ganga River
The scehmes to take care of the largest river, the Ganga, continues as follows:
Ganga Action Plan
The action plan started in 1985 to take care of the cleanliness of the river water.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga:
This scheme was approved in 2014 to provide people with clean river water.
Namami Gange Programme
It was also approved in 2014 to refresh the water of the Ganga River.
National Ganga River Basin Project
It has funds from the World Bank to improve the quality of the Ganga River and support communities in certain states.
Jal Marg Vikas Project
The scheme focuses on creating a path over the river for transportation purposes.
Conclusion
The river Ganga is considered the Goddess in Hindu culture. The River Ganga provides enormous benefits to its Indian population. Hindus believe the Ganga River water purifies us. It is important to Indian citizens to provide them with employment. Beautiful cities like Haridwar and Rishikesh are located near the banks of the River Ganga.
There are various ongoing schemes to take responsibility for the cleanliness of the Ganga River. River Ganga is also important from a tourism point of view. Multiple temples are situated near the banks of the Ganga, attracting people worldwide.
The Ganga River System FAQs
Which is the longest river network in India?
The Ganga River is the largest and longest river network in India.
What type of drainage pattern does the river Ganga follow?
It follows the dendritic drainage pattern.
What Pollutes the Ganga River?
Industrial waste, sewage waste, Residues of dead bodies, and agricultural waste pollute the river Ganga.
Which city in India has the most polluted Ganga water?
Kanpur is the city where most of the polluted water of the river Ganga flows.
From where does the word Ganges come from?
The Ganges is the Greek word. Many Westernized words for indian names come from Greek words.
Contact Us