River Delta Case Study: Ganges Delta Flashcards
Why do people live there?
Monsoon climate means Ganges floods between July and October leaving behind a layer of fertile silt which is easy to work with
83% of world’s jute is cultivated there
2/3 of population work in agriculture
Fertile soils allow rice and tea to grow well
Fish ponds have increased fish production by 800% in recent years providing a good source of income
Vegetation that colonises the delta produces many useful natural resources
Sundarbans is the largest single area of mangrove forest in the world-wood for thatching, honey
Dry season-people collect sand for construction companies
Risks of living there
Many wide rivers to cross so land transport is slow and difficult
Ship access is hard as many channels are blocked by sand and mud
Wet, warm environment is a breeding ground for disease
Risk of extreme flooding and death
Risk of arsenic poisoning as it is washed out from the underlying metamorphic rocks
Danger from animals in Sundarbans
Location and population
Location: Bangladesh
Population: 450 million
