| Sundarbans |
| Population Altitude Area Languages |
| The Sundarbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by three rivers, Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. It covers an area of 38,500 sq km and is densely covered by mangrove forest. The Sundarbans is also the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world, stretching 80 km inland from the coast of Bangladesh and India. It is also the world’s largest estuarine forest, spread over 54 islands and criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries. The Sundarbans has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "Sundarban" literally means "beautiful jungle" or "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language. The name Sundarbans may also have been derived from the Sundari trees that are found in Sundarbans in large numbers. Other possible explanations can be a derivation from "Samudra Ban" (Sea Forest) or "Chandra-bandhe" (name of a primitive tribe). But the generally accepted view is the one associated with Sundari trees. As well as the mangrove swamps, the Sunderbans include some of the last remaining stands of the mighty jungles which once covered the Gangetic plain. The typical littoral forests of Sundarbans comprises of a host of trees species adopted to the peculiar estuarine condition of high salinity, lack of soil erosion and daily inundation by high tides. The whole eco-system is sensitive to changes in salinity and the continuous cycle of erosion and deposition affects the plant communities giving rise to dynamic floristic changes. The plant communities are continuously adjusting to the new conditions. In 1966, 2585 sq km of the Sundarbans was made into a wildlife sanctuary and is now home to one of the largest concentrations of tigers in the world. A 2004 census estimated that there are 274 Royal Bengal tigers in the area. Although they are said to have an appetite for humans, tigers are typically shy and sightings are a very rare exception. The Sundarbans is also the home of a number of other endangered and globally threatened species. The creeks of Sundarbans form the habitat of the Estuarine Crocodile, Salvator Lizard (Water Monitor), River Terrapin and Horse Shoe or King Crab. This area serves as the nesting ground for endangered marine turtles like Olive Ridley, Green Turtle and Hawk's Bill Turtles. Aquatic endangered mammals like Genetic Dolphins thrive within mangrove creeks close to sea. |
