Question

Give a detailed account on the basin of the Ganga.

Answer 1

1. The Ganga River system is the largest drainage system in India.
2. The river Ganga is 2,480 km long.
3. It rises in the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayas at a height of 6000 meters.
4. It cuts deep gorges through the Siwalik range and enters into the plain at Haridwar.
5. The Ganga plain occupies an area of about 3,37,000 covering the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
6. The river Yamuna rises in the Yamunotri glacier. After flowing for a distance of about 1300 km, it joins Ganga on its right bank at Allahabad.
7. The rivers Chambal, Betwa, Son, and Ken rise in the Deccan Plateau and join Ganga on its right bank.
8. The Ghandak, the Gomati, the Ghaghara and the Kosi join the Ganga on its left bank.
9. It is covered by thick alluvial sediments.
10. The Ganga plains slope gently from Haryana and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
11. It is covered by thick alluvial sediments.
12. The largest distributary of Ganga is Hooghly.
13. Most of the Ganga Delta lies in Bangladesh.
14. The Seaward of the Ganga Delta has tidal estuaries, sandbanks, and islands known as Sunderbans.