The Bhitarkanika Mangroves are a mangrove wetland in India's Orissa state. The Bhitarkanika Mangroves cover an area of 650 km² in the river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal Mangrove are woody trees or shrubs that grow in coastal habitats or mangal (Hogarth, 1999), for which the term mangrove swamp also would apply. ... Orissa (2001 provisional pop. ... Nile River delta, as seen from Earth orbit. ... The Brahmani River is a river in eastern India. ... The Baitarani River is a river of eastern India, which originates in the state of Jharkhand, and flows southeast through Orissa state to empty into the Bay of Bengal. ...

The Bhitarkanika Mangroves are home to 55 of India's 58 known mangrove species. The mangroves harbor one of India's largest populations of saltwater crocodiles, and Gahirmatha Beach, which separates the mangroves from the Bay of Bengal, is the world's most important nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The wetland also hosts a large and diverse population of resident and migratory birds. Binomial name Crocodylus porosus (Schneider, 1801) The saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living reptiles, and is often said to be the most dangerous to humans. ... A map showing the location of the Bay of Bengal. ... Binomial name Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829) The Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is one of the smallest species of sea turtle. ...

The Bhitarkanika Mangroves were Zamindari forests until 1952, when the government of Orissa abolished the Zamindari system, and put the Zamindari forests in the control of the state forest department. In 1975, an area of 672 km² was declared the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. The core area of the sanctuary, with an area of 145 km², was declared Bhitarkanika National Park in September 1998. The Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, which bounds the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary to the east, was create in September 1997, and encompasses Gahirmatha Beach and an adjacent portion of the Bay of Bengal. Bhitarkanika Mangroves were designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002. The Zamindari System is a kind of feudal system, introduced by the Mughals to collect taxes from peasants. ... A national park located in the Kendrapara district of Orissa in India. ... The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

External links

• Mangroves of Orissa (Orissa State Forest Department: Wildlife Organisation)
• Bhitarkanika Mangroves (WWF India)