The Padma is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the eastern and main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for 356 kilometres (221 mi) to its confluence with the Meghna River, near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is located on the banks of the river. Since 1966, over 66,000 hectares of land have been lost to erosion of the Padma. The Padma River is also an important source of fisheries and supports livelihoods for communities living along its banks.