The Ganges - Rivers of the World Author:David Cumming The Ganges rises in the Himalaya mountains and flows for 1,550 miles across northern India to empty into the Bay of Bengal through its enormous delta. More than 300 million people are dependent on the river for both food and water. The Ganges is also the center of the spiritual life for millions of Hindus. The river is holy for them, and they wo... more »rship it as the goddess Ganga. The Ganges delta, home to the Bengal tiger and many other rare and beautiful animals, is also subject to terrible flooding. The people of Bangladesh, almost all of whom live in the delta, face a constant battle against the monsoon rains that swell the Ganges and flood the delta. The author examines these climatic conditions and other aspects of the river, including pollution and the affects of deforestation and dams, and discusses the steps being taken to combat these problems.
Publisher's Note: This series looks at some of the world's most important rivers. Each river is discussed in relation to its physical aspects, its importance to the economoies of the countries through which it flows, and its effect on the environment. « less