Bhitarkanika mangroves
Topic: Natural Vegetation and Forests of India · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Bhitarkanika is India's second-largest mangrove forest. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow on tidal mudflats and in river mouths. Bhitarkanika lies in the Brahmani-Baitarani delta of Odisha, where these rivers meet the Bay of Bengal. It is known for its saltwater crocodiles. Like other mangroves, it protects the coast from storm surges and serves as a nursery for fish.
Example
Gahirmatha beach, next to Bhitarkanika in Odisha, is a mass-nesting site for olive ridley turtles. Large numbers of turtles come ashore together to lay eggs.
Don't confuse with
- Sundarbans: the world's largest mangrove forest and India's largest. It is in West Bengal, is shared with Bangladesh, and is known for the sundari tree and the Royal Bengal tiger.