Sylhet's geography is characterized by its dramatic contrast between high, forested hills and deep, expansive wetlands. The region is bordered by the towering Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya (India) to the north, and the Tripura Hills to the south.
The lifeblood of the division is the Surma-Meghna River System. The Surma and Kushiyara rivers, which enter the region from India, meander through the plains, eventually converging to form the mighty Meghna River. During the monsoon season, these rivers swell, transforming the western and southern parts of the division into massive inland seas known as *haors* (saucer-shaped shallow depressions). Tanguar Haor and Hakaluki Haor are globally recognized wetland ecosystems, home to thousands of migratory birds and vital fish populations.
The eastern and northern borders are defined by undulating hills covered in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, interspersed with meticulously manicured tea estates. The region is also rich in natural resources, containing the bulk of Bangladesh's natural gas reserves, as well as limestone, gravel, and high-quality sand.
