Geography of Kerala

Kerala is located on the South West edge of India. It is a narrow strip of land and lies between the Western Ghats mountain range on the Eastern side and the Arabian Sea on the Western.

Geographical Location of Kerala : 

• Latitudinally it lies between 8 0 17' 0 11  N and 12 0 47 1 40 11  N
• Longitudinally in between  74 0 27 1 40 11 E and 77 0 27 1 12 11 E
• Kerala covers  1.18% of the total area of India
• In the area, Kerala ranks 22 among the Indian States.
• In Population Kerala ranks 13 among Indain States.
• Boundary States: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

Exam Points

• God's own country: Kerala
• Spice Garden of India: Kerala
• Land of Lagoons and Backwaters: Kerala
• Political Laboratory of India: Kerala

Physical Features:

 Kerala is divided into three regions:

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

Eastern Highlands

• Slop down from  the Western Ghats
• Also known as Sahyadri
• Around 48% of the total land is occupied by the Eastern Ghats
• The highest peak in peninsular India Anamudi ( 2695m/8841 feet)
• UNESCO includes western Ghats in their "World Heritage Center" on July Ist 2012.
• Length of Western Ghat is 1600 KM
• During Sangam period, this region was known as Kurunji and Mullai.
• Inhabitants of Kurunji were known as Vettuvar and Mullai were known as Ayar or Idayar.
• Forest resources are large in this region
• The Western Ghats join with eastern ghats at Nilgiri in Tamilnadu
• The Western Ghats passes through six states( Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu)
• Most of the rivers in Kerala originate from the Western Ghats
• Wayanad Plataue is an extension of Deccan Plataue
• Annamalai, Nelliyambathi, Periyar, Agasthyar hills are the parts of Eastern Highlands
• Madhav Gadgil  committee appointed by the Central Government for the protection of Western Ghats
• Kasthuri Rangan committee appointed by the central government to study the report of Madhav Gadgil
• Umman V Umman committee appointed by State government to study about Gadgil and Kasthuri Rangan report

Central Midlands

• Central Midlands lies between the Eastern Highlands and Western Coastal plains
• Midland region occupies 40 % of the total area of  Kerala
• Most of the paddy fields of Kerala belongs to central Midlands
• Midland region of Northern Kerala is characterized by Laterite Soil 
• Laterite of Angadipuram was declared as a" Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India"
• During Sangam period this region is known as Marutham and Uzhavar were the inhabitants there.
• Tapioca and Banana are major crops in this region.

Western Coastal Plains

• Western Coastal plains are also known n as  Low lands.
• The low region occupies 10 % of the total land area
• It is the Westernmost region bordered by the Arabian Sea
• During Sangam period, this region was known as Neithal
• The inhabitants were known as Paravar and Meenavar
• The area where the backwater joins with the sea is called Azhi
• The temporary sandbar the separates the backwater from the sea is called Pozhi 

Exam Points

• The district with the largest coastal area - Kannur
• The district with the least coastal area - Kollam
• The thaluk which has the longest coastal line - Cherthala (Alappuzha)
• In Kerala where cultivation is done below sea level- Kuttanad (lies about 0.5 m  to 1.5 m)
• Kuttanad is known as "Gift of River Pamba"
• Which corporation in Kerala, has no coastal line -Thrissur
• Number of districts having the coastal area in Kerala -9 
• Longest drive in beach in Kerala - Muzhzppilangadi ( Kannur- 4km)