Water Resources eAtlas
 

AS06 Ganges
Watersheds of Asia and Oceania
     

 

 

 

Land Cover and Use Variables
  
Percent Forest Cover: 4.2
Percent Grassland, Savanna and Shrubland: 13.4
Percent Wetlands: 17.7
Percent Cropland: 72.4
Percent Irrigated Cropland: 22.7
Percent Dryland Area: 58.0
Percent Urban and Industrial Area: 6.3
Percent Loss of Original Forest Cover: 84.5

 
 
 

Basin Indicators
  
Basin Area (sq. km.): 1,016,124
Average Population Density (people per sq. km.): 401
Number of Large Cities (>100,000 people): 11
Water Supply per Person (1995) (m3/person/year): 1,700-4,000
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: 5
Number of Dams (>15m high) on Main Stem of River: -
Number of Dams (>150m high) on Main Stem of River: -

 
 
 

Biodiversity Information and Indicators
  
Number of Fish Species: 141
Number of Fish Endemics: 0
Number of Amphibian Species: 90
Number of Ramsar Sites: 4
Number of Wetland-Dependent IBAs: -
Number of Endemic Bird Areas: 5
Percent Protected Area: 5.6

This basin is home to one of the 5 species of freshwater cetaceans, the Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) or susu. The remaining population is estimated at around 1200-1500 individuals, with an annual mortality rate of 10 percent. This species is also found in the Brahmaputra basin and historically in the Indus River. The major threat to the species is the high degree of river fragmentation due to dams and canals, accidental killings, pollution and direct harvest. The species is classified as endangered by IUCN.
 

 

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