For more than three hundred and fifty million people who live near its banks, the Ganges River represents life. It nourishes and cleans them, helps them travel, and lies at the heart of their religious beliefs. The Ganges has more than a hundred names, but Hindus call it Gangamai, or Mother Ganga. As we travel its 2,500 kilometres from the Himalayan Mountains to the Bay of Bengal, we see how the Ganges is used. It is endangered by pollution and its future is at risk from global warming and water disputes - but the Ganges remains one of the world's greatest rivers. The river is divided into five sections and each section begins with a map showing the area that will be covered. Map references are highlighted within the text to show the reader where they are on their journey. The text has been written in themes - economic, social, nature, people and history - to enable the reader to study particular aspects of the river along its course.