Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Bangladesh

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Bangladesh.

Speed

Overview

most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal

Physical Features

Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Climate: The climate of Bangladesh ranges from subtropical to tropical. The humidity remains high all year and reaches between 90%–95% from June to September. Bangladesh has three main seasons. The mild (70s [ºF]) or cold season, from mid-October to the end of February, is characterized by sunny skies, drier weather, and cool (high 50s [ºF]) evenings. During the hot season, from March until the end of May, there is quite a change. The early part is pleasant (75ºF), but as the monsoon approaches, hot (95ºF) temperatures and high humidity make life difficult. The monsoon season lasts from June to October. At the beginning of the monsoon, the continuous rains cool the atmosphere. Temperatures are milder (85ºF to 90ºF), but the humidity can be oppressive. Tropical cyclones emerge from the Bay of Bengal with high winds and tidal waves on the average of one major cyclone every 3 years. There are two cyclone seasons, one just before the monsoon (May to June) and one just after the monsoon (October to November). Damage generally is limited to the southern finger of the country (east of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazaar). During the monsoon season in a normal year, about 30% of the country is under water. Some years, however, floods cover 70% of the country. At some times during the year, up to 70% of the country is under water. Annual flooding is a way of life but often the flooding is not due to rainfall but caused by water coming from across the borders via the Ganges, Meghna, and the Brahmaputra Rivers.
Weather Patterns: http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/BGXX0003?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
Highest Point: 1230 — Keokradong 1,230 m
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Borders and Area

Area (Comparative): slightly smaller than Iowa
Border Countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin contiguous zone: 18 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Natural Resources and Hazards

Natural Resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Natural Hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season

Environment and Land Use

Current Environmental Issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
International Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Back to Bangladesh

Geography and Environment of Bangladesh

Detailed geography

Physical Features

Borders and Area

Natural Resources and Hazards

Environment and Land Use