Bay of Bengal

In the northeastern section of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal is the world’s largest bay. Bounded in the west by India and the island nation of Sri Lanka, in the north by Bangladesh, and in the east by Burma (also known as Myanmar) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the name of the bay is taken from the eponymous region that spans parts of India and Bangladesh.

The name of the region, in fact, derives from the Sanskrit word for the Ganges River – “Banga”. The Ganges River, an important site for ceremonial purposes, drains into the northern reach of the bay, and with the Meghna and Brahmaputra Rivers, forms an extensive delta. Here, a large ecosystem, the Sundarbans, dominates. This mangrove forest is the largest of its type in the world. The mangrove tree itself is a fascinating plant: it has the ability to filter the salt out of seawater through its complex root system. In addition, the Sundarbans provides important habitat for a variety of species. These include the endangered Bengal Tiger, the crocodile, and the spotted deer.

Beneath the waters of the bay, the sedimentary discharge of the rivers has created a shallow sea characteristic of many delta areas. Animal species that inhabit these waters include the Ridley sea turtle, marlin, barracuda, tuna, the pink-shaded humpback dolphin, and Jerdon’s sea snake, only found in the Indian Ocean and the waters off southeast Asia.

Perhaps one of the most notable characteristics of the Bay of Bengal is its monsoon season. This shifting in winds can be attributed to the extreme geography of the Indian subcontinent- balmy sea coasts rising precipitously to the towering Himalayas. During the summer months, the hot, moist winds of the Indian Ocean blow inland. In the fall, the cool, dry air from the Himalayas moves southward. The monsoon season, roughly June through October, is characterized by heavy rains and frequent cyclones.

Resources:

The SmithsonianOcean Portal (Environmental Science, Biology)
http://ocean.si.edu/

Ocean Adventures’ Predator Protector Game Lesson (Environmental Science, Biology)
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators/sharks/gamelesson.html

Commerce in India, National Geographic X-peditions (Social Studies, World History, Environmental Science)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/11/g68/


Photo: Robert L. Wick ; Map: Norman Einstein