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Diverse Geography The State has the alluvial plains known as the Dooars in the south and the mountainous Himalayan region in the north. The diverse geography of the land is just fascinating. The Darjeeling district in the north is known for its scenic beauty and the Darjeeling tea. The dense wooded regions in the Dooars have rich and varied flora and fauna. Malda Region with Malda district and West Dinajpur constitute the mid rib of the state. The rich and fertile soil of the Malda region is irrigated by the hill river of Mahananda. The River of Sorrow The alluvial plains in the south is the basin of River Damodar, also known as the “River of Bengal’s Sorrow.” The name coined after a number of floods in the region attributed to the river. The other main rivers are the Ganga and Hoogly, responsible for flooding of the low lying lagoons. The coastal fringes of Midnapur district have a curious mix of large shifting sand dunes and salt marshes. The plantations of Casuarinas and Keya bushes have stabilized the dunes and stopped the erosion by the tidal sea streams. The flowers of Keya bush are collected to produce Kewra, the local scent. It is a vital livelihood of the poor people of the region. The Sunderbans The district of Twenty Four Parganas has one of the pristine forests known as the Sundarbans. The forests extend into the districts of Khulna and Barisal in the neighboring Bangladesh. The forests are fed by the natural arterial streams. The region consists of swamps, quick sands and mangrove trees. The forests are thick and impenetrable near the sea coasts. The Royal Bengal tiger, wild hog, leopard, rhinoceros and the famous Cobra all have a natural habitat here. The Sundarbans also help to prevent the salty sea water from entering into the rice producing plains, but sometimes the forests loose the battle to the peril of rice farmers.
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