This ecoregion lies in a vast delta spanning over 10,000 sq km formed by the confluence of the Ganga, Hooghly, Padma, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. Strong monsoons from the Bay of Bengal bring heavy rains and devastating cyclones that cause widespread destruction. Annual rainfall exceeds 3,500 mm, and monsoon daytime temperatures can reach a stifling 48°C. The mangroves are not as diverse as other forest types but have a dense canopy and an undergrowth of seedlings and saplings of the canopy trees. While the tree community is dominated by Heritiera, other mangrove trees include species of Avicennia, Xylocarpus, Sonneratia, Bruguiera, Cereops, Aegicera, and Rhizophora. Nipa, a palm adapted to estuaries and mangroves, line the channels.
Sundarbans mangroves
Source: Modified from One Earth CC BY-NC