Topics: Sundarbans, Mangrove, Bangladesh Pages: 17 (5808 words) Published: November 3, 2011
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For the November 1847 short civil war in Switzerland, see Sonderbund War. The Sundarbans *|
UNESCO World Heritage Site|
Country| Bangladesh
India (West Bengal)|
Type| Natural|
Criteria| ix, x|
Reference| 798|
Region **| Asia|
Inscription history|
Inscription| 1997 (21st Session)|
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO|
The Sundarbans (Bengali: সুন্দরবন, Shundorbôn) is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.[1] The name Sundarban can be literally translated as "beautiful jungle" or "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language (Shundor, "beautiful" and bon, "forest" or "jungle"). The name may have been derived from the Sundari trees that are found in Sundarbans in large numbers. Alternatively, it has been proposed that the name is a corruption of Samudraban (Bengali: সমুদ্রবন Shomudrobôn "Sea Forest") or Chandra-bandhe (name of a primitive tribe). But the generally accepted view is the one associated with Sundari trees.[1] The forest lies in the vast delta on the Bay of Bengal formed by the super confluence of the Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers across Saiyan southern Bangladesh. The seasonally-flooded Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests lie inland from the mangrove forests on the coastal fringe. The forest covers 10,000 of which about 6,000 are in Bangladesh.[2] It became inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage suite in 1997. The Sundarbans is estimated to be about 4,110 km², of which about 1,700 km² is occupied by waterbodies in the forms of river, canals and creeks of width varying from a few meters to several kilometers. The Sundarbans is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests. The interconnected network of waterways makes almost every corner of the forest accessible by boat. The area is known for the eponymous Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), as well as numerous fauna including species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes. The fertile soils of the delta have been subject to intensive human use for centuries, and the ecoregion has been mostly converted to intensive agriculture, with few enclaves of forest remaining. The remaining forests, pain together with the Sundarbans mangroves, are important habitat for the endangered tiger. Additionally, the Sundarbans serves a crucial function as a protective barrier for the millions of inhabitants in and around Khulna and Monglaagainst the floods that result from the cyclones. The Sundarbans has also been enlisted among the finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature. Contents[hide] * 1 History * 2 Physiography * 2.1 Ecoregions * 2.2 Climate change impact * 3 Flora * 4 Fauna * 4.1 Predators * 4.2 Avifauna * 4.3 Aqua fauna * 4.4 Reptiles * 4.5 Endangered and extinct species * 5 Economy * 6 Administration * 7 In popular culture * 8 See also * 9 Footnotes and references * 10 Sources * 11 External links| [edit] History

Village in yugioh a clearing of Sunderbans, 1839
The history of the area can be traced back to 200–300 AD. A ruin of a city built by Chand Sadagar has been found in the Baghmara Forest Block. During the Mughal period, the Mughal Kings leased the forests of the Sundarbans to nearby residents. Many criminals took refuge in the Sundarbans from the advancing armies of Emperor Akbar. Many have been known to be attacked by Tigers[3] Many of the buildings which were built by them later fell to hands of Portuguese pirates, salt smugglers and dacoits in the 17th century. Evidence of the fact can be traced from the ruins at Netidhopani and other places scattered all over Sundarbans.[4] The legal status of the forests underwent a series of changes, including the distinction of being the first mangrove forest in the world to be...
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