Sundarbans: Largest mangrove swamp in the world

From the archive record

The Sundarbans delta is a rich and fertile basin of flora growing in areas with low oxygen soil where slow flowing water allows fine sediments to accumulate and the local fauna has adapted well to its vibrant physico-chemical factors. Covering India and Bangladesh, this highly active zone supports a diverse gene pool of micro and macrobiotic groups, an ecosystem dominated by mangrove vegetation occupying a special status as ‘critically endangered’. Covering a vast landmass of approximately 40,000 sq. kms. of active delta region of which 10,000 sq.km is the Sundarban or forest deltoid floodplains across Bangladesh and India, the Sundarban Region is perhaps, the largest unbroken mass of mangrove ecology remaining in the world. The unique ecosystem is a precarious balance between the freshwat