The Ganges Basin Flashcards
What are the monsoon rains in India?
Monsoon rains between June and October each year are an important input of water.
Which regions suffer from annual floods?
Bihar and West Bengal in India suffer from annual floods as does much of Bangladesh.
What risks does the Ganges delta face?
The Ganges delta is at risk from freshwater river flooding, saline intrusion, and cyclones which can bring storm surges.
How many people live in the Ganges drainage basin?
500 million people live in the Ganges drainage basin, making it the most densely populated drainage basin in the world.
Why are the Gangetic Plains densely populated?
The Gangetic Plains are densely populated due to the agricultural opportunities provided by the flat fertile alluvium.
What larger drainage basin is the Ganges Drainage basin part of?
The Ganges Drainage basin is part of the larger Ganges-Brahmaputra-Megna drainage basin.
Which countries does the Ganges river cover?
The Ganges is an international river that covers Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet.
Where is the source of the Ganges river?
The source is in the Eastern Himalayas, with much of the water coming from ice and snow melt.
How many glaciers contribute to the Ganges river?
Approximately 15,000 glaciers store 12,000 km³ of freshwater for the Ganges.
What is the length of the Siachen Glacier?
The Siachen Glacier is 70 km long and provides the Ganges with 12,000 km³ of fresh water each year.
What area do the Gangetic Plains cover?
The Gangetic Plains cover 225 million hectares of fertile plain, an area of deposited alluvium.
Where is the mouth of the Ganges located?
The mouth of the Ganges is found in Bangladesh and is very low lying, with much of the land less than 3m above sea level.
Into which body of water does the Ganges flow?
The mouth of the Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal.
What is the area covered by the Ganges drainage basin?
The drainage basin covers an area of 1.758 million km².
How many tributaries join the Ganges in India?
Over 50 tributaries join the main river in India before the Ganges flows into Bangladesh.
What is the precipitation level in the Gangetic Plains?
Precipitation is low in the Gangetic Plains, ranging between 300 and 600 mm and failing.
What is the climate at the mouth of the Ganges?
The climate is tropical at the mouth of the Ganges, with average rainfall levels between 1500 mm and 3000 mm per year.
