Bengal
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Bengal বাংলা বেঙ্গল বঙ্গ |
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| Region in Asia | |
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| Continent | Asia |
| Countries | |
| Largest cities |
List
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| Area | |
| • Total | 232,752 km2 (89,866 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 250 million |
| • Density | 1,070/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
Bengal (bɛŋgəl; Bengali: বাংলা, বেঙ্গল and বঙ্গ) is a region in Asia which is located in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Geographically, it is made up by the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta system, the largest such formation in the world; along with mountains in its north (bordering the Himalayan states) and east (bordering Northeast India and Burma).
Politically, Bengal is divided between the sovereign republic of Bangladesh, which covers two-thirds of the region, and West Bengal, which is a part of the Republic of India, in the western part of the region. In 2011, the population of Bengal was estimated to be 250 million, making it the most densely populated region in South Asia. An estimated 160 million people live in Bangladesh, while 91.3 million people live in West Bengal. The predominant ethno-linguistic group are the Bengali people, who speak the Indo-Aryan Bengali language. Bengali Muslims are the majority in Bangladesh. Bengali Hindus are the majority in West Bengal. Outside Bengal proper, the Indian territories of Tripura, the Barak Valley of Assam and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as Myanmar's Rakhine State, are also home to significant communities with Bengali heritage.
Dense woodlands, including hilly rainforests, cover Bengal's northern and eastern areas; while an elevated forested plateau covers its central area. In the littoral southwest are the Sunderbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and home of the Bengal tiger. In the coastal southeast lies Cox's Bazaar, the longest beach in the world at 125 km (78 mi). The region has a monsoon climate, which the Bengali calendar divides into six seasons.
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