In which of the following States is the Sundarban mangrove located?

NORCET 8 Prelims-2025

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 8 Prelims-2025

Explanation

The Sundarban mangrove forest is located in the delta region of the Bay of Bengal, spanning the Indian state of West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh.
It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The forest is named after the 'Sundri' tree (Heritiera fomes), which is a dominant species in the area.
This unique ecosystem is famous for its rich biodiversity, most notably as the primary habitat for the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Option A: Kerala is famous for its extensive backwaters and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands, which do contain some mangrove patches, but it is not the location of the vast Sundarban forest.
Option C: Karnataka has several smaller mangrove forests along its coast, particularly in the estuaries of rivers like the Kali and Sharavathi, but these are geographically and ecologically distinct from the Sundarbans.
Option D: Andhra Pradesh is home to the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the second-largest stretch of mangrove forests in India, located in the Godavari-Krishna delta. However, it is not the Sundarbans.

Visual 1: Map of India - A map highlighting the location of the Sundarban delta in West Bengal to provide clear geographical context.
Visual 2: Photograph - An image of the Sundri tree (Heritiera fomes) with its characteristic pneumatophores (breathing roots) to illustrate the origin of the forest's name.
Visual 3: Infographic - A chart comparing the key features of major mangrove sites in India, including Sundarbans, Bhitarkanika, and Coringa.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Major ecosystems and geographical locations in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a direct clinical topic, understanding major ecosystems like mangroves is relevant to public and environmental health.
Mangroves act as natural barriers protecting coastal communities from cyclones and tsunamis, which directly prevents mass casualty incidents, injuries, and the outbreak of water-borne diseases post-disaster.
The biodiversity in these regions can also be a source of novel compounds for medical research.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on Indian geography.
First, identify the key geographical feature in the question: 'Sundarban mangrove'.
Next, access your knowledge base about major national parks and ecological sites in India.
Associate 'Sundarban' with the Royal Bengal Tiger and its location in the Ganges delta, which points to West Bengal.
Eliminate other options by recalling their distinct geographical or ecological features (e.g., Kerala's backwaters, Andhra's Coringa sanctuary).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qe4Kd0au8prqomYUF2Bsls