Which forest contains the world’s largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem?

The Sundarbans contain the world’s largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem. This vast tidal forest lies in the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers along Bangladesh and India.

The landscape is a shifting network of mudflats, creeks, islands, and channels. Its mangrove plants tolerate salt and regular tidal flooding, creating nurseries for fish and shelter for reptiles, birds, and mammals. The forest is especially famous as habitat for the Bengal tiger, which has adapted to a wet, river-cut environment.

The Sundarbans is shared by two countries and has both Indian and Bangladeshi protected areas. The name is commonly linked to the sundari tree, a mangrove species once especially abundant there. The forest also helps reduce coastal flooding and erosion, although storms, sea-level rise, and human pressure threaten it.