Igboland (Standard ), also known as Southeastern Nigeria is a non-governmental cultural region and a linguistic area in Nigeria that is defined by the Igbo culture and language. It is primarily situated in the Lowland forest region of Nigeria, with minor parts in the Niger-Delta, where the Niger river fans out into the atlantic ocean in a vast network of creeks and mangrove swamps on the Bight of Bonny located between latitude 5–7 degrees north and longitude 6–8 degrees east, and occupies a total landmass of about 16,000 square miles in southern Nigeria. It has lands on both sides of the lower Niger River, although the larger chunk of the region is situated on the east of the river. The region is surrounded by a host of large rivers. Igboland's culture has been shaped by its rainforest climate. As this area constitutes a large part of the south-eastern part of Nigeria, it is often referred to as the 'The East' locally. The majority of the Igbo-speaking population in Igboland identify as ethnic Igbo.