Ganges River Facts The Ganges River is a 1569 mile long river flowing across India and Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges River begins in the Himalayas' Gangotri Glacier and by the time it reaches its mouth it is the world's third largest river by discharge. In Hinduism the Ganges River is the most sacred river, and is worshipped as the Goddess Ganga. The Ganges River drains an area of 416,990 square miles, and by 2007 it was the 5th most polluted river in the world. This pollution is greatly attributed to industrial and human waste, which is not only dangerous to the humans who consume it as drinking water, but to the survival of many species that live in its water.

Interesting Ganges River Facts:
The Ganges River travels through two countries - India and Bangladesh.
The Ganges River flows through several states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
The Ganges River's main tributaries include Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandaki, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, Yamuna, Tamsa, Son, and Punpun.
The Ganges River passes through many cities including Rishikesh, Hardiwar, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Jajmau, Allahabad, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Buxar, Ballia, Patna, Munger, and Bhagalpur.
The Ganges River watershed (area of land drained by the river) is 416,990 square miles in size.
By 2007 the Ganges River had become the 5th most polluted river in the world, but attempts to improve its water quality have failed for the most part.
The pollution in the Ganges River threatens more than 90 amphibian species, more than 140 fish species, and humans who rely on the river for water.
The Ganges river dolphin and the Ganges river shark are both endangered because of the massive pollution.
There are many species of birds that live in India and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Many of these species rely on the Ganges River for survival.
The soil in the Ganges River watershed is extremely fertile. Crops commonly grown in the region include potatoes, wheat, lentils, oil seeds, rice, and sugarcane.
The Ganges River is becoming shallower in some area. Some attribute this water level change to climate change and global warming.
The Ganges River system is fed from a variety of sources including the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, the July to September monsoon rains, and cyclones.
Throughout history the Ganges River has been important to many provincial and imperial capital cities including Kolkata, Kampilya, Baharampur, Murshidabad, Munger, Patna, Kashi, Kara, Pataliputra, and Kannauj.
Studies have shown that the Ganges River is capable of decomposing organic waste faster than any other rivers in the world - as much as 25 times faster.
Something in the Ganges Rivers' water prevents mosquitos from breeding, and when it is added to other water it prevents them from breeding in it as well.
A test in the late 1800s found that the Cholera bacterium could not survive in the Ganges River for more than three hours.
The Ganges River is actually shifting its course. It has shifted 2.5 KM in Bihar since 1990. Source : https://www.softschools.com/facts/rivers/ganges_river_facts/2128/