Mumbai is located on a narrow peninsula on the southwest of Salsette Island, bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Thane Creek to the east, and Vasai Creek to the north. The city forms a natural harbor that has historically shielded its ports from the worst of the Arabian Sea's weather.
Despite being a hyper-dense urban jungle, Mumbai features a surprising array of natural geographic features. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park, covering over 100 square kilometers, is located entirely within the city limits—a rarity for major global metropolises. This protected forest acts as the city's "green lung" and is home to leopards, deer, and diverse avian species. Mumbai also contains three major lakes—Powai, Vihar, and Tulsi—the latter two of which are located within the national park and supply a portion of the city's drinking water.
