Making the Ganges Delta in Bangladesh

The causes and the effects of the formation of the Ganges Delta, Bangladesh - for iGCSE Geography (CIE).

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Making the Ganges Delta in Bangladesh

Causes

  • The lower course of the slow-moving Ganges river carries a large quantity of fine silt as suspension load. As it enters the Bay of Bengal...
  • Over time more sediment is deposited as the waves are too weak to remove it quickly.
  • By winding itself around the islands...

Effects

  • ...its speed reduces and deposition takes place. The heaviest material is dropped firs and builds up to form islands.
  • The river channel becomes blocked by the silt and more flooding also takes place.
  • ...the river finds its way to the sea. These channels are distributaries. Swamps and brackish water are found here.

Overall summary

The Ganges river loses its speed as it enters the Bay of Bengal causing its load to be deposited and islands are formed. Over time, more sediment is deposited and the river channel becomes blocked. The river finds its way to the sea by winding around the islands.

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Janet Birch

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Basic explanation of formation of delta

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