Geography Of Tripura

Location Of Tripura

Tripura is North East India’s landlocked state and part of the Seven Sister’s group which along with this state includes the 6 other states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. Tripura encompasses an area of 10,491.69 square km and is the third smallest state in India. It extends from 91°09'E to 92°20'E and 22°56’N to 24°32’N. The country of Bangladesh forms the western, southern, and northern borders of Tripura. Assam borders it in the north-east and Mizoram in the east. The national highways that pass through Mizoram’s Mamit District and Assam’s Karimganj District connect Tripura to these states.

Climate Of Tripura

A tropical savanna type of climate prevails in Tripura and the state experiences four major seasons: Summer or pre-monsoon (March to April); monsoon (May to September); post-monsoon (October to November); and winter (December to February). The uneven terrain of Tripura also leads to regional variances in the climate of the state.

Heavy rains and frequent floods are common during the monsoon season. 1,979.6 to 2,745.9 mm was the average rainfall received between 1995 and 2006. Summer temperatures  range between 24 °C  and 36 °C while winter temperatures range between 13 °C to 27 °C. The state is also highly susceptible to strong winds and cyclones.

Topology Of Tripura

Hill ranges, valleys, and plains form the topography of this north-eastern state of India. Tripura has 5 anticlinal ranges and 5 synclines in between these ranges. The hill ranges run from north to south from Boromura in the west of Tripura to Jampui Hills in the east. The 5 valleys or intervening synclines between these anticlines are the Dharmanagar–Kanchanpur, Kailasahar–Manu, Kamalpur–Ambasa, Khowai–Teliamura, and Agartala–Udaipur. The state is highly susceptible to earthquakes and lies on Seismic Zone V.

The highest peak in Tripura hidden beneath the tree cover.

The highest point in Tripura is the 3,081 feet tall Betling Shib in the Jampui Range. The state also has isolated hillocks called tillas and valleys called lungas. 

Soil Of Tripura

The narrow valleys and flood plains of Tripura have fertile alluvial soil while the hills have porous, red laterite soil. Agricultural land is found mostly in the south and west of the state. 

Rivers Of Tripura

Tripura has 10 major rivers which are primarily rain-fed, hence transient in nature. The rivers carry a high volume of water in the rainy season and dry up in the summer. Unfortunately, deforestation in the catchment areas of Tripura’s rivers has led to a further loss of water from these rivers in the summer season. 

Tripura has 10 major rivers and several smaller streams, lakes, and ponds. At least 13 lakes are present in the Trishna wildlife Sanctuary and at least 3 in the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary which attracts migratory birds to the region.

State Symbols Of Tripura

State Animal: Phayre’s Langur

State Bird: Green Imperial Pigeon

State Tree: Agar

State Flower: Nagesar

Ecoregions Of Tripura

The Indian state of Tripura, like the rest of the country, lies in the Indomalaya ecozone. Forest cover in the state was 57.73% of the total land cover in 2011. Mountain, freshwater, and forest ecosystems exist in the state. 

Types Of Vegetation

Evergreen forests (hill slopes and sandy banks of rivers): Eugenia, Dipterocarpus, Amoora, Syzgium, Artocarpus, etc.

Bamboo and cane forests are interspersed between evergreen and deciduous vegetation. 

Moist deciduous forests of 2 types: 

1. Moist-deciduous mixed forest
2. Sal-predominant forest

Grasslands and swamps (plain region): Swamps (Macaranga, Albizia, Lagerstroemia, Barringtonia); Grasslands (Phragmites, sugarcane, shitalpati)

Fauna Of Tripura

90 mammalian species belonging to10 orders and 65 genera call Tripura their home. Elephants, wild dog, porcupine, sambar, wild boar, binturong, barking deer, leopard, clouded leopard, gaur, several species of primates and small cats live in the state. Nearly 300 species of birds and several species of reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates are also found in Tripura. 

Protected Areas In Tripura

1 Clouded Leopard National Park

2 Rajbari National Park

3 Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary

4 Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary

5 Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary

6 Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary