Physical Overview
Most of the areas of
Bangladesh lies within the
broad delta formed by the
Ganges and Brahmaputra
rivers. Lands are
exceedingly flat, low-lying,
and subject to annual
flooding. Much fertile,
alluvial soil is deposited by
the floodwaters. The only
significant area of hilly
terrain, constituting less
than one-tenth of the
nation's territory, is the
Chittagong Hill Tracts in
the narrow southeastern
panhandle of the country.
There, on the border with
Burma, is Mowdok Mual
(1003 m/3292 ft), the
country's highest peak.
Small, scattered hills lie
along or near the eastern
and northern borders
with India. The eroded
remnants of two old
alluvial terraces-the
Madhupur Tract, in the
north central part of the
country, and The Barind,
straddling the
northwestern boundary
with India- attain
elevations of about 30 m
(about 100 ft). The soil
here is much less fertile
than the annually
replenished alluvium of
the surrounding
floodplain.
Land
Total area: 144,000 square
kilometers;
Land area: 133,910 square
kilometers
Land boundaries: 4,246
km total; 193 km with
Myanmar, 4,053 km with
India, Coastline: 580 km.
Land distribution:
arable land 67%
forest and woodland 16%
permanent crops 2%
meadows and pastures
4%
others 11%
