Frontiers
The great Himalayan range of Mountains borders the north & northeastern side of India while the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal wrap Indian along the west, south & eastern frontiers respectively.
The land frontier measures about 15,200 km. Following countries share the common border with India
Afghanistan and Pakistan to the northwest,
China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north,
Myanmar to the east
Bangladesh to the east
Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
Total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km
India landscape extending from the snow-capped Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south, reflects tremendous variety in terms of climate, landscape, flora & fauna and demography, which makes it more of a continent in itself than a mere country.
Landscape
The landscape of India comprises of 4 regions, namely:
The Great Mountain Zone: The mountain wall, formed out of a marine condition some 600 million years ago, extends over a distance of 2,400 km with a varying depth of 240 to 320 km. Comprise three almost parallel ranges interspersed with large plateaus and valleys, which offer outstanding natural beauty & diversity. Some of the world’s highest peaks are found in this region.
The Indo-Gangetic Plains: Formed by basins of three distinct river systems - the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. 2,400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, this is one of world's greatest stretches of flat alluvium and also one of the most densely populated areas on the earth. Between the Yamuna at Delhi and the Bay of Bengal, nearly 1,600 km away, there is a drop of only 200 metres in elevation.
The Desert Region: Comprises of two parts –
The great desert : extends from the edge of the Rann of Kuchch beyond the Luni river northward with the whole of the Rajasthan-Sind frontier running through this.
The little desert : from the Luni between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur up to the northern wastes.
In between lies a zone of absolutely sterile country, consisting of rocky land cut up by limestone ridges.
The Southern Peninsular Plateau: The hill ranges of Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura, Maikala and Ajanta mark of the region from the Indo Gangetic Plain. This region is flanked on one side by the Eastern Ghats with average elevation of about 610 metres, and on the other by the Western Ghats varying between 915 to 1,220 metres in height, (in some places rising to over 2,440 metres). Nilgiri Hills forms the southern part of the plateau where both the ranges meet.
Climate
In India, 4 seasons are prominent
Winter (January-February),
Hot weather summer (March-May);
Rainy southwestern monsoon (June-September)
Post-monsoon (October-December) – also known as northeast monsoon in the southern Peninsula.
seasonal winds blow over India
Rivers
Indian rivers are classified into 4 categories:
Himalayan Rivers :
Formed by melting snow and glaciers and therefore, continuously flow throughout the year. During heavy rainfall in the monsoon months, the rivers swell causing floods. The Indus & the Ganges are two great rivers of the world belonging to this category.
Deccan Rivers:
Mostly rain-fed & therefore fluctuate in volume. Godavari in the southern Peninsula having the second largest river basin covering 10 per cent of the area of India belongs to this category.
Coastal Rivers:
These rivers are comparatively small. Only a handful of such rivers drain into the sea near the delta of east cost. On the west coast there are as many as 600 such rivers
Rivers of the inland drainage basin:
A few rivers in Rajasthan do not drain into the sea rather into the salt lakes or get lost in sand with no outlet to sea. Luni in Rajasthan is one such river.
Flora
By virtue of the wide range of climatic conditions, India has rich and varied vegetation. The entire landscape are classified into eight distinct-floristic-regions, namely –
The western Himalayas,
The Gangetic plains,
The eastern Himalayas,
The Deccan,
The Assam,
The Malabo,
The Indus plains,
The Andaman’s
In terms of plant diversity India acquires the tenth position in the world and fourth in Asia. From about 70 per cent geographical area surveyed so far, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata has recorded availability of 47,000 species of plants.
Owing to destruction of forests for agricultural, industrial and urban development, about 1,336 plant species are considered vulnerable and endangered.
Fauna
India also boasts a splendid variety of fauna, numbering up to 89,451 species of animals.
Some outstanding variety of mammals include: the majestic elephant, the gaur or Indian bison-the largest of existing bovines, the great Indian rhinoceros, the swamp deer, the thamin spotted deer, nilgai, the Indian antelope or black-buck, the four-horned antelope, the tiger, the lion, a variety of leopards.
The great Himalayan range has a very interesting variety of fauna that includes the wild sheep and goats, markhor, ibex, shrew and tapir. The panda and the snow leopard are found in the upper reaches of the mountains.
Several birds, like peacock, pheasants, geese, ducks, mynahs, parakeets, pigeons, cranes, hornbills and sunbirds inhabit forests and wetlands.
Crocodiles and gharials along with a variety of snakes are spotted in the rivers and lakes.
Like everywhere in the world, rapid urbanization leading to destruction of forests has threatened the existence of animals. More than 39 species of mammals, 72 species of birds, 17 species of reptiles, three species of amphibians, two species of fish, and a large number of butterflies, moth, and beetles are considered vulnerable and endangered. The government has taken initiative to establish Wild Life Sanctuaries, Bird Sanctuaries, National Parks, Tiger Conservation Projects, Crocodile Conservation Projects, in a bid to conserve the bio-diversity in India.
The Travel Map of India is dotted with following Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Parks.
Demography
India acquires 2.4% of the world surface area and supports and sustains a whopping 16.7% of the world population.
The population density of India in 2001 was 324 per sq km
West Bengal is still the most thickly populated state with a population density of 903 in 2001 (Bihar & Kerala acquires the 2nd & 3rd position respectively)
The literacy rate in the country is 64.84 per cent, 75.26 for males and 53.67 for females
Following 3 states rank on top in terms of literacy rate
Kerala (90.86%, male literacy rate : 94.24%, female literacy rate 87.72%)
Mizoram (88.80%)
Lakshadweep (86.66%)
Indian population also reflects a rich diversity in languages, religions, cuisine, heritage & culture,
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