<P> The discharge of the Ganges also differs by source . Frequently, discharge is described for the mouth of the Meghna River, thus combining the Ganges with the Brahmaputra and Meghna . This results in a total average annual discharge of about 38,000 m / s (1,300,000 cu ft / s), or 42,470 m / s (1,500,000 cu ft / s). In other cases the average annual discharges of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna are given separately, at about 16,650 m / s (588,000 cu ft / s) for the Ganges, about 19,820 m / s (700,000 cu ft / s) for the Brahmaputra, and about 5,100 m / s (180,000 cu ft / s) for the Meghna . </P> <P> The maximum peak discharge of the Ganges, as recorded at Hardinge Bridge in Bangladesh, exceeded 70,000 m / s (2,500,000 cu ft / s). The minimum recorded at the same place was about 180 m / s (6,400 cu ft / s), in 1997 . </P> <P> The hydrologic cycle in the Ganges basin is governed by the Southwest Monsoon . About 84% of the total rainfall occurs in the monsoon from June to September . Consequently, streamflow in the Ganges is highly seasonal . The average dry season to monsoon discharge ratio is about 1: 6, as measured at Hardinge Bridge . This strong seasonal variation underlies many problems of land and water resource development in the region . The seasonality of flow is so acute it can cause both drought and floods . Bangladesh, in particular, frequently experiences drought during the dry season and regularly suffers extreme floods during the monsoon . </P> <P> In the Ganges Delta many large rivers come together, both merging and bifurcating in a complicated network of channels . The two largest rivers, the Ganges and Brahmaputra, both split into distributary channels, the largest of which merge with other large rivers before themselves joining . This current channel pattern was not always the case . Over time the rivers in Ganges Delta have changed course, sometimes altering the network of channels in significant ways . </P>

Longest ganges tributary does not flow to sea