Padma River, Major river system in central Bangladesh
The Padma is a river system in central Bangladesh that runs for 356 kilometers and forms the southeastern distribution of the Ganges. Its channels divide between sandbars and islands that continuously change through the flow of water.
Since 1966 the river has altered more than 66,000 hectares of land through erosion and reshaped the geography of central Bangladesh. Shorelines disappear and new landmasses emerge through the constant movement of sediment.
The river takes its name from the Sanskrit word for lotus and also carries the name of the goddess Lakshmi in Hindu writings. Fishermen and ferry operators work on the water and use the shifting channels for transport and their livelihood.
The bridge from 2022 connects the eastern and western regions and shortens travel time between the separated shores significantly. Visitors can see the wide water expanse and sandy shore zones from different access points.
The riverbed switches from narrow to meandering and braided patterns, and these changes are clearly visible in satellite images. The channels split and reunite as sediments create new shapes in the watercourse.
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