Water Resources eAtlas
 

AS11 Indus
Watersheds of Asia and Oceania
     

 

 

 

Land Cover and Use Variables
  
Percent Forest Cover: 0.4
Percent Grassland, Savanna and Shrubland: 46.4
Percent Wetlands: 4.2
Percent Cropland: 30.0
Percent Irrigated Cropland: 24.1
Percent Dryland Area: 63.1
Percent Urban and Industrial Area: 4.6
Percent Loss of Original Forest Cover: 90.1

 
 
 

Basin Indicators
  
Basin Area (sq. km.): 1,081,718
Average Population Density (people per sq. km.): 165
Number of Large Cities (>100,000 people): 11
Water Supply per Person (1995) (m3/person/year): 830
Degree of river fragmentation: -
Number of Dams (>15m high) in Basin: -
Number of Dams (>150m high) in Basin: -
Number of Dams (>60m high) under Construction: 3
Number of Dams (>15m high) on Main Stem of River: 4
Number of Dams (>150m high) on Main Stem of River: 0

 
 
 

Biodiversity Information and Indicators
  
Number of Fish Species: 147
Number of Fish Endemics: 22
Number of Amphibian Species: 25
Number of Ramsar Sites: 1
Number of Wetland-Dependent IBAs: 15
Number of Endemic Bird Areas: 1
Percent Protected Area: 4.4

This basin is home to one of the 5 species of freshwater cetaceans, the Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) or bhulan. The remaining population is estimated at less that 100 individuals and is concentrated in the Indus River Dolphin Reserve. Extensive dam construction in the basin has been the major cause for the decline of the species.The species is classified as endangered by IUCN.
 

 

 

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