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Asia’s Environmental Issues Pollution of the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers & Air Pollution and Flooding in India and China

Standards SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia. a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers. b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China.

Ganges River

The Ganges River: India

“The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of India’s age long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga” ~First Prime Minister of India, born in Allahabad on the Ganges

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Ganges River The Ganges River begins high in the Himalayas and flows southeast through India and Bangladesh for more than 1,500 miles to the Bay of Bengal.

Ganges River It is the most important river to the Indian subcontinent. The Ganges provides water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and for transportation for over 400 million people who live in its river valley. It runs through India’s most fertile and densely populated areas.

Ganges River The Ganges is nicknamed “Mother Ganges”, and it is very sacred to the Hindu religion.

Features Major river of India and Bangladesh Flows southeastward from the Himalayas for 1,550 miles to the Bay of Bengal Floods occur frequently during summer

Features Hindus consider the Ganges a sacred river Waters are believed to be holy and capable of washing away sins Banks have templed cities Holiest of the cities is Varanasi

Features

Features

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Causes of Pollution About two million tons of chemical, human, and agricultural waste pours into the Ganges every day. Cities pour millions of gallons of sewage into the river that is eventually carried to villages farther south.

Causes of Pollution Human and animal waste also pollute the river. Hindus believe that they will have a peaceful journey to the next life if their ashes are scattered into the Ganges. Many are too poor for cremation, so they place the bodies in the water instead.

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The Ganges River is highly polluted with dangerous bacteria. Effects The Ganges River is highly polluted with dangerous bacteria.

Effects It is estimated that about 80% of all illnesses and 1/3rd of deaths in India come from diseases carried by dirty water. Outbreaks of such diseases as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis are common.

Effects Cities along the Ganges have the highest rates of water-born diseases (found in drinking water) of any who live in India.

Health Effects Several diseases have been spread due to the pollution. These include cholera, dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis

Typhoid cases world wide, green is most common regions.

This cartoon depicts “death” coming in the form of cholera

How Cholera Kills The cholera bacteria produce a toxin which keeps the human body from absorbing liquids. It is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known. Untreated individuals may die from severe dehydration within two to three hours..

Solution? India’s government started a program in 1985 called the Ganges Action Plan, with the purpose of cleaning up the river. Indians have built many sewage and water treatment plants along the river.

Solution? Unfortunately, it has not proved to be enough as India’s growing population and the run-off from industrial and farm production have continued to pollute the river.

Imagine you are a Hindu sitting overlooking the Ganges river, what kinds of things might you see, what does the river mean to you as a Hindu Write a 1 page story describing what you would see if you were sitting on the edge of the river and what you might be doing if you made the pilgrimage to the river