RAHR PLAINS

geographic region that composes part of the Lower Ganges Plains in northern West Bengal state, eastern India, with an area of about 12,400 square miles (32,000 square km). Except in the northern mountainous area, the alluvial plains are essentially flat. Moist deciduous forests of sal (Shorea), champac, and acacia are frequently found, together with bamboo, laurels, orchids, and giant creepers. The dense forests in the north provide sanctuary for the one-horned Indian rhinoceros (found particularly in the Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary), elephant, and tiger. The Bhagirathi, Damodar, and Ajay rivers meander across the plains. The economy is mostly agricultural (cereals, pulse , oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, betel nut, date palm, and tea). The Raniganj coalfields, some of the country's largest, and adjacent deposits of iron ore, copper, lead, and zinc are used by the major iron and steel industrial complexes near Asansol and Durgapur. Other industries produce cotton and silk textiles, jute, paper, chemicals, fertilizers, gauges, bicycles, locomotives, and motorboats. Durg apur, Asansol, Burdwan, Bankura, Midnapore, and Suri are the chief towns and are linked by roads and railways.