Author Description

The earth looks like a blue planet, two-thirds of which is covered by water and looks like the planet of water-from space. The world’s lakes and rivers are probably the planet’s most important freshwater resources. But the amount of fresh water constitutes only 2.53% of the earth’s water. On the earth’s surface it inhabits large number of species. Freshwater systems are created by water that enters the terrestrial environment as precipitation and flows both above and below ground towards the sea. These systems encompass a wide range of habitats, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and the riparian zones associated with them. India by virtue of its geography, varied terrain, and climate is blessed with numerous rivers and streams that support a rich diversity of inland and coastal wetland habitats. Major river systems in the north are Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra (perennial rivers from the Himalayas) and in the south, Krishna, Godavari, and Cauvery (not perennial, as they are mainly rain- fed).