Where Is Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Nadu is India’s 11th biggest state and encompasses an area of 130,058 square kilometers. The state is bordered by Kerala to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the north, and Karnataka to the northwest. Tamil Nadu also has an extensive coastline along the Bay of Bengal to the east as well as the Indian Ocean to the south. The Indian Peninsula’s southernmost tip, Cape Comorin, is part of Tamil Nadu. Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
Topology Of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is the only Indian state which has the presence of both the Western and the Eastern Ghats which meet at the Nilgiri Hills. The Western Ghats which is the dominant landform along the entire western border of Tamil Nadu blocks much of the Southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Indian state. The eastern part of the state is thus more fertile than the west. Hills and plains cover the northern parts of Tamil Nadu while the south-central and central sections are arid plains. The state has a coastline of 1,076 kilometers, the second biggest among the Indian states.
Climate Of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu experiences hot summers which last from April to mid-June. May is the hottest month in the state and the hottest days might record a temperature as high as 40 degree Celsius in the interior of the state. Hot winds also blow during the summer with an average velocity of 8–16 km/hour.
Winter lasts from mid-November to January end. The climate is pleasant during this time. Days are warm and sunny and nights are comfortable and cool.
The state is heavily dependent on the monsoon rains since its rivers are rain-fed in nature and hence a lack of rains can trigger severe water shortage in the Indian state. The climate ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid. The state receives rain from the South-west monsoon between June to September and dominant northeast winds from October to December. The average annual rainfall here is about 945 mm.
Natural Hazards In Tamil Nadu
The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu are highly susceptible to rough weather and storms during the cyclone season. One of the worst natural disaster to strike the coast of Tamil Nadu was the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that claimed the lives 7,793 people in the state itself. Tamil Nadu is at a relatively low risk from seismic hazards, however, since it lies in a low seismic hazard zone. Only a portion of the western border of the state lies in a moderate hazard zone
Soils Of Tamil Nadu
The major soils of Tamil Nadu include:
- Red soils, (62%): Red loamy, Red sterile, Red-sandy, Thin red, and Deep red loamy soils.
- Black soils (12%)
- Laterite soils (3%) and
- Coastal soils (7%)
According to the USDA soil classification system, the soils of Tamil Nadu are classified as:
Inceptisol (50%), Alfisols (30%), Vertisols (7%), Entisols (6%), and a small percentage of mollisols, and ultisols.
Rivers Of Tamil Nadu
Many rivers flow through Tamil Nadu and drain into the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Most of these rivers originate in the Western Ghats and are rain-fed in nature. The Kaveri River is the longest river flowing through Tamil Nadu and is often dubbed as the “Ganga of the South” since it is regarded as a sacred river. The perennial rivers of the state are the Bhavani, Cheyyar, Chittar, Ponniyar, Thamirabarani, Amaravati, Meyar, Palar, and the Vaigai rivers. Tamil Nadu’s major non-perennial rivers include the Noyil, Gundar, Suruli, Vaipar, Valparai, Varshali, and Vellar rivers. Several other rivers flow through the state.
State Symbols Of Tamil Nadu
State Animal: Nilgiri Tahr
State Bird: Emerald Dove
State Flower: Gloriosa Lily
State Tree: Palm Tree
State Fruit: Jackfruit
Protected Areas In Tamil Nadu
Biosphere Reserves In Tamil Nadu
National Parks In Tamil Nadu
5 national parks are present in Tamil Nadu which cover an area of 307.84 square km which accounts for only 0.24% of the land area of the state, the third lowest among Indian states and UT’s.
These are:
6 Palani Hills National Park (proposed)
Wildlife Sanctuaries In Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu houses 7 wildlife sanctuaries and 13 bird sanctuaries which encompass an area of 2,997.60 square km. This accounts for 2.30% of the land area of the state. The wildlife sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu are:
Bird Sanctuaries In Tamil Nadu
The bird sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu are as follows:
3 Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary
4 Karikili Bird Sanctuary
6 Melaselvanur - Kilaselvanur Bird Sanctuary
14 Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary (special for peacocks)
15 Kallaperambur lake (bird habitat)
16 Suchindram Theroor Birds Sanctuary (proposed)
Tiger Reserves In Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu houses four tiger reserves which play a vital role in tiger conservation in the state.
Elephant Reserves In Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, a major participant in Project Elephant has 5 elephant sanctuaries, 19 elephant corridors, and 14 Forest Department divisions with elephants. The elephant reserves of the state are:
1 Nilgiri Elephant Reserve
2 Coimbatore Elephant Reserve
3 Anamalai Elephant Reserve
4 Srivilliputtur Elephant Reserve
Flora And Fauna Of Tamil Nadu
Nearly 2000 species of wildlife is native to Tamil Nadu. The iconic mammalian species inhabiting Tamil Nadu are tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Nilgiri langurs, giant squirrels, elephants, Nilgiri tahrs, gaurs, sambar deer, etc. The state also hosts a rich diversity of avifauna including both resident and migratory species like herons, spoonbills, white ibises, little grebes, Indian moorhen, and more. Marine species found in the coastal waters of Tamil Nadu include dolphins, turtles, dugongs, fish, etc.
17,672 species of angiosperms, 1559 species of medicinal plants, 64 species of gymnosperms, a large number of fungi, algae, bryophytes, lichens, etc., also grow in the state.
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