Basic Geographical Facts about Kerala

Kerala has a width that stretches between the high ranges of Sahyadris in the east and the Arabian sea.

• ·        The total area of Kerala is 38863 Sq Km.
• ·         The land share of Kerala in India is 1.18%
• ·         The width of Kerala ranges between 35-120 Km
• ·         Geographical location of Kerala: Latitude - 8 Degree 17.30 Minutes North and 12 Degree 17.40 Minutes North. Longitude - 74 Degree 27.47 Minutes East and 77 Degree 37.12 Minutes East.
• ·         The population of Kerala - 3.33 Crores (according to 2011 census)
• ·         Length of coastal line in Kerala - 580 Km
• ·         Kerala shares borders with Tamilnadu & Karnataka
• ·         Wayanad is the only district in Kerala that shares borders with both Tamilnadu and Karnataka.

Note:

• ·         Kerala is known as God's own country.
• ·         Kerala is the spice garden of India.
• ·         Kerala is known as the land of lagoons and backwaters.
• ·         Kerala is the political laboratory of India.
• ·         Kuttanad is known as the Amsterdam of India.
• ·         Kochi is known as the queen of the Arabian sea.
• ·         Alappuzha is known as the Venice of the east.
• ·         Vayalar is known as the coir village of India.

Confusing fact:

• ·         Kerala state is well known as ‘God’s own country’. The countrywith same recognition is New Zealand.
• ·         The Great Hornbill, the state bird of Kerala is the national bird of Malaysia. Kerala’s state 􀁾ower, Kanikkonna (Cassia fstula) is the national 􀁾ower of Thailand. Coconut tree, our state tree is also recognized as the national tree of Maldives.

Physical Features of Kerala

Kerala is divided into three physiological divisions. They are as follows.

• 1.     The Eastern Highlands
• 2.     Central Midlands
• 3.     Western Coastal Plains

 Eastern Highlands: - It accounts for 48 percent of the total land area of Kerala. Eastern highlands slopes down from western ghats and are covered by dense forests. Most of the forest resources of Kerala are from these regions. Major plantations found here are tea, coffee, and rubber. During Sangham period, this region was known as Kurinji and Mullai and the inhabitants of Kurinji were known as Vettuvar and Mullai were known as Ayar or Idayar. Sahyadri is a part of Eastern Highland. Wayanad plateau, Anamalai, Nelliampathi, Periyar plateau, Agasthya hills in Thiruvananthapuram are part of Eastern Highlands. Anamudi is the highest point (2695 m) in eastern highlands. Shola forests are found on the western slopes of eastern highlands.

Note: Formation of the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geologic evidence indicates that they were form edduring the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana some 150million years ago.

• ·         The Nilgiri Biosphere reserve in the Western Ghats is the Frst Biosphere Reserve in India.
• ·         Kasturirangan Report is related to the protection of Western Ghats.
• ·         Agasthyakudam is the southernmost peak in the Western Ghats which has a height of 6132 feet.       

Note: Palakkad Gap/ Palghat Gap

 The continuity of the Western Ghats is lost south of Nilgiris, where there is remarkable opening called the ‘Palghat/Palakkad Gap’ separating the Nilgiri massif from equally high and precipitous massif of Anaimalai to the south. Palghat/Palakkad Gap is the lowest mountain pass in the Western Ghats (between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala). The gap is about 30km wide and at its highest point 300 m above MSL.

There are various theories about the origin of Palakkad gap. One among them is that it is caused by the landslide due to rivers 􀁾owing in opposite directions. The Bharatha Puzha originates in the Palakkad Gap from rivulets and tributaries feeding on steep escarpment slopes along the 􀁾anks of the Ghats.

Confusing Facts

·         Palakkad gap or Palakkad pass is the lowest mountain pass in the Western Ghats located between Coimbatore & Tamilnadu. Thamarassei Mountain Pass is located in Wayanad. Dungri La/Mana Pass is the highest mountain pass in India located at Zanskar Mountain Range of Uttarakhand. Nathula Pass is in Sikkim.

·         Perambadi Ghat links Kerala and Coorg. Periya Pass & Thamarasseri Pass links Waynad (Mananthawadi) and Mysore. Bodinayikannur, Kambam, Aryankavu (Punalur with Sengottai), and Aramboli Passes connect Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Interesting Fact

The name 'Karinthandan' is associated with Thamarasseri Pass. Karinthandan was the local chieftain of Paniyas in Wayanad district in Kerala State.He lived between 1700 - 1750 AD. Karinthandan helped Britishers to 􀁽nd the shortest route to pass the ghat. Once the English engineer found out the way, he killed the Adivasi to take credit for 􀁽nding the route. Later it was seen that the travelers who passed by the new route were haunted by the soul of Karinthandan

Central Midlands: - It accounts for 40 percent of the total land area of Kerala. Central Midlands lies between the Eastern Highlands and Western Coastal Plains. Most of the paddy 􀁽elds of Kerala belongs to central Midlands. It mostly consists of Alluvial soil. During Sangham period, this region was known as Marutham and Uzhavar were the inhabitants there. Tapioca and banana are major crops in this region, however, areca nut and coconut are also cultivated.

Western Coastal Plains: - It covers an area of about 4000 Sq Km. Kerala coast runs about 580 Km length. Coconut is the major cultivation here. Coastal lines of Kerala is one of the densely populated regions in India. Backwaters in these coastal plains are known as 'Kayals'. During Sangham period, this region was known as Neital. The inhabitants were known as Paratavar and Meenavar.

The Coastal belt is comparatively plain. Extensive paddy 􀁽elds, thick groves of coconut trees and picturesque backwaters, interconnected with canals and rivers are the features of this region. No wonder, Alappuzha, an old seaport town of this region is known as the ’Venice of the East'. In the southern and northern parts of the State, the coastal belt also has some small hillocks.

Confusing facts:

It was Lord Curzon who coined the term ‘Venice of the East’ to Alappuzha. Cochin Diwan R K Shanmugam Chetty characterized Kochi as ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’.

Note:

• ·         Palakkad, Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad, and Pathanamthitta are the districts in Kerala without coastal plains.
• ·         Kannur is the district with largest coastal plain in Kerala.
• ·         Kollam is the district with least coastal plain in Kerala.
• ·         Kochi is the major port of Kerala situated in Vembanad Lake.

Natural Regions of Kerala

Natural regions are a small well-de􀁽ned area with its distinguished common natural features like geography. There are 7 natural regions in Kerala. They are as follows.

• 1.     The Eastern Highlands
• 2.     Foot Hill Zones
• 3.     Hilly Uplands
• 4.     Palghat Gap (A gap of about 40 Km in western ghats)
• 5.     Thrissur-Kanhangad plain
• 6.     Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram rolling plain
• 7.     Western coastal plain