Question

Which of the following best describes the location of the Gangotri Glacier?

• A. At the mouth of the Ganga
• B. At the source of the Bhagirathi
• C. At the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna
• D. In the Sundarban Delta

Answer 1

Answer:

B. At the source of the Bhagirathi

• Correct Answer: Option B - At the source of the Bhagirathi

• The Gangotri Glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas and is located in the state of Uttarakhand, India. This massive glacier, situated at an altitude of about 4,000 meters, is the primary source of the Bhagirathi River, which later joins with the Alaknanda River at Devprayag to form the Ganga (Ganges) River.

• The glacier is approximately 30 kilometers long and is surrounded by peaks of the Gangotri Group of mountains. It is considered sacred in Hindu mythology and is an important pilgrimage site. The glacier's terminus is called Gaumukh (meaning "cow's mouth" in Hindi), which is the actual source point where the Bhagirathi River emerges.

• Option A (At the mouth of the Ganga) is incorrect because the mouth of the Ganga is where the river meets the Bay of Bengal, forming the Sundarbans Delta thousands of kilometers away from the glacier.

• Option C (At the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna) is incorrect because this confluence occurs at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), which is far downstream from the glacier.

• Option D (In the Sundarban Delta) is incorrect because the Sundarbans are located at the very end of the Ganga's journey, where it meets the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal and Bangladesh.