A massive earthquake changed the course of the Ganges River

A major earthquake 2,500 years ago radically changed the course of one of the world's largest rivers, the Ganges, in what is now Bangladesh, a densely populated region still subject to significant seismic activity.

Experts found that this previously undocumented earthquake had redirected the main channel of the Ganges River.

Huge change in the course of the river

While changes in river course, known as fluctuations, have been documented before, these changes stand out because of their scale.

“I don't think we've seen anything this large anywhere before,” said co-author Michael Stickler, a geophysicist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. According to Stickler, such an event would have flooded the surrounding area, posing a major threat to all residents.

“It has not been previously confirmed that earthquakes can trigger fluctuations in a delta, especially for a huge river like the Ganges,” said lead author Lise Chamberlain, a geophysicist at Wageningen University.

Ganges river system

The Ganges, which originates in the Himalayas, flows for about 1,600 miles and merges with other important rivers such as the Brahmaputra and Meghna, to form a complex system of waterways that empty into the Bay of Bengal. This system is the second largest river system in the world in terms of discharge, after the Amazon River.

Rivers in large delta areas often change their course over time due to sediment accumulation, causing the river bed to rise and eventually breach, redirecting the flow.

These changes usually occur gradually through successive floods over years or decades. However, earthquake-induced extrusion, Stickler explains, can occur almost instantaneously.

The ancient main channel of the Ganges

Researchers have identified what they believe is the ancient main channel of the river, which is located about 100 kilometers south of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. This area, now used primarily for rice cultivation, is vulnerable to frequent flooding.

During fieldwork in 2018, Chamberlain's team discovered vertical dykes of light-colored sand cutting through horizontal layers of clay in a newly excavated pond. These features, known as earthquakes, indicate past seismic activity. The quakes were 30 to 40 centimeters wide, extending through three to four meters of clay.

Additional analysis showed that the earthquakes formed about 2,500 years ago, coinciding with the abandonment and filling of the river channel. Similar results were observed 85 km downstream.

Collapse caused by earthquake

The researchers concluded that this was a large overturn caused by an earthquake, likely with a magnitude of seven or eight.

The likely sources of the earthquake are two-fold: the subduction zone to the south and east, or giant faults at the base of the Himalayas. Stresses are building up in both regions and could produce similar earthquakes in the future, as shown by a 2016 study led by Stickler.

The last similar earthquake occurred in 1762, triggering a deadly tsunami that reached Dhaka, with another likely event around 1140 AD.

Modern risks of river erosion

A 2016 study estimated that a repeat of such an earthquake in modern times could affect 140 million people.

“Large earthquakes affect large areas and can have long-term economic, social and political impacts,” said Syed Humayun Akhtar, vice chancellor of Bangladesh Open University and co-author of the two studies.

The Ganges is not alone in facing these dangers. Other rivers in tectonically active delta areas include the Yellow River in China, the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar, several rivers off the west coast of the United States, and the Jordan River, which straddles the borders of Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian West Bank, and Israel.

More about the Ganges River

The Ganges is one of the most important sacred rivers in the world. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian Himalayas.

The river is revered in Hinduism, with millions of devotees considering its waters to be purifying and holy.

Cradle of civilization

Historically, the Ganges was a cradle of civilization, supporting agriculture and sustaining major cities along its banks, such as Varanasi, Haridwar, and Kolkata.

The fertile plains of the Ganges Basin were vital to India's food production, especially in the cultivation of rice and wheat.

Environmental threats

However, the river faces significant environmental challenges, including pollution from industrial waste, sewage and religious offerings, threatening its ecosystem and the health of those who depend on its waters.

Efforts to clean and preserve the Ganges are still ongoing, with government initiatives such as the National Ganges Cleaning Mission aiming to reduce pollution and restore its ecological balance.

Despite these challenges, the Ganges remains a symbol of life, spirituality and resilience for millions of people.

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

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