Most of the Ganges Delta, the world’s largest river delta, lies in Bangladesh.
The delta occupies much of southern Bangladesh and extends westward into India, where the Ganges is known as the Padma. It is built from sediment carried by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna river systems as they flow toward the Bay of Bengal. The constantly shifting channels, islands and wetlands make it one of the most dynamic landscapes on Earth.
A common mix-up is assuming the entire delta belongs to Bangladesh. India contains the delta’s western section, including part of the Sundarbans, the vast mangrove forest shared by both countries. Bangladesh contains the larger share, however, and its low-lying floodplains support major communities and agriculture while also facing flooding, cyclones and saltwater intrusion. The Sundarbans are famous as habitat for Bengal tigers and many aquatic and bird species.