The largest contiguous mangrove forest on Earth, spread across the delta where the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet the Bay of Bengal, shared between Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Named for the sundari trees that dominate its tangled, salt tolerant forest, the Sundarbans is the only mangrove ecosystem known to support a significant population of tigers, which here swim between islands and are known to enter the water in pursuit of prey. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the forest also buffers a densely populated coastline against cyclones and storm surge, a service made more urgent as sea levels rise.
Facts
Classification
Biogeographic Realm Protected StatusManaged or Multiple-Use Protection 1 Area (sq km) Connections
Demonstrates
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem is structured directly by its tidal regime: its channels flood and drain twice daily, and its mangrove trees carry root and reproductive adaptations specifically suited to regular tidal inundation.
Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Hosts
Source World Wildlife Fund
Source World Wildlife Fund
In Biome
The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest, a wetland ecosystem by NOAA's own hydrology-based definition; this edge had no in-biome link at all before this pass.
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.britannica.com/place/Sundarbans, opening definition sentence
Sundarbans, vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Padma (Ganges [Ganga])-Brahmaputra River delta in southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India, and southern Bangladesh.
- Biogeographic realm: indomalayan (derived from location stated in entity description)
Protected status (stated plainly in the entity own recorded description)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the forest also buffers a densely populated coastline against cyclones and storm surge, a service made more urgent as sea levels rise.
- Demonstrates: Decomposition
- In Biome: Wetlands
View the Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDemonstrates: TidesView the Source World Wildlife Fund
World Wildlife Fund- Hosts: Bengal Tiger
- Hosts: Saltwater Crocodile
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