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How does melting Himalayan snow affect the Ganges River?

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Physical map showing the Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage networks across northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), and Myanmar. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, from the high Himalayas in brown and white to lowland plains in green, and marks major rivers, tributaries, glaciers, dams, irrigated areas, and regions subject to flooding. An inset locator map highlights the region within South Asia. — Ganges River The Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage network.

The melting of Himalayan snow and glacial ice plays a vital role in the hydrology of the Ganges River. Along with monsoon rains, this meltwater serves as a primary source of the river's water supply.1

Specifically, the melting of Himalayan snows during the hot season—typically from April to June—provides a consistent flow of water to the river. This contribution is significant because it helps maintain the river's volume during periods when rainfall is otherwise limited.12

The influence of this meltwater is also important for the river's utility; because the Ganges and its Himalayan-fed tributaries receive meltwater, their seasonal flow variations are considerably less extreme than those of rivers fed exclusively by rain. This relative consistency in flow enhances the river's suitability for irrigation and, under appropriate conditions, for navigation. While the river's volume increases markedly during the rainy monsoon season (July to September), the steady supply from Himalayan glaciers and snowfields remains a fundamental component of its year-round hydrological cycle.324