A detailed Geography of Tamilnadu –Physical

Geography ,Agricultural Geography, and mineral

resources

By sarath c pazhassi

INDIAN GEOGRAPHYIndia derives her name from river Indus .the country is Often described as a tropical country .in territorial limits of Indian mainland extend between 8.4”N and 37.6’’N latitude and 68.7’’and97.25’’E Longitude The southern most point of Indian mainland is cape of Comorian near kanyakumari. The southern most point of India in the Nicobar island was formerly called the pigmalion point and its known as the Indira point.Norther point is also called Indira col.The north to south ----------- 3214 kmThe east to west ----------- 2933 km

Tamil Nadu is the eleventh largest state in India and covers an area of 130,058 square kilometres (50,216 sq mi). The bordering states are Kerala to the west, Karnataka to the northwest, Andhra Pradesh to the north, and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula is located in Tamil Nadu. At this point is the town of Kanyakumari  which is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean .

Wester Ghats parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet at the Nilgiri hills. The Western Ghats dominate the entire western border with Kerala, effectively blocking much of the rain bearing clouds of the south west monsoon from entering the state. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains and the northern parts are a mix of hills and plains. The central and the south central regions are arid plains and receive less rainfall than the other regions.

climate

Tamil Nadu is heavily dependent

on monsoon rains, and thereby is prone to droughts when the monsoons fail. The state has distinct periods of rainfall, which are the advancing monsoon period, South West monsoon (from June to September) with strong southwest winds, the North East monsoon(from October to December), with dominant northeast winds, and the Dry season (from January to May). The normal annual rainfall of the state is about 945 mm (37.2 in), of which 48% is through the North East monsoon, and 32% through the South West monsoon.

Geographycal location

Weather recording staions

Summer season

Winter season

Rainy season

Coasteal regions

chennai 40 c 22 c 25 c

Interior regions

Vellore 42 c 21 c 22 c

Inland regions

Thiruchirapally

42 c 20 c 23 c

Hilly regions Kodaikanal 11 c 6 c 14 c

plateau Coimbatore 32 c 26 c 21 c

The western, southern and the north western parts are hilly and rich in vegetation. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet at the Nilgiri hills. The Western Ghats dominate the entire western border with Kerala, effectively blocking much of the rain bearing clouds of the south west monsoon from entering the state. The eastern parts are fertile coastal plains and the northern parts are a mix of hills and plains.

Nilgiri hills

Relief, drainage, and soils Tamil Nadu is divided naturally between the flat

country along the eastern coast and the hilly regions in the north and west. The broadest part of the eastern plains is the fertile Kaveri (Cauvery) River delta; farther south are the arid flat lands surrounding the cities of Ramanathapuram and Madurai (Madurai). The highest peaks of the Western Ghats run along the state’s western border. Various segments of this mountain range— including the Nilgiri, Anaimalai, and Palni hills—have peaks exceeding 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) in elevation. Anai Peak, at 8,842 feet (2,695 metres) in the Anaimalai Hills, is the highest mountain in peninsular India. The lower peaks of the Eastern Ghats and their outliers—locally called the Javadi, Kalrayan, and Shevaroy hills—run through the centre of the region.   TamilNadu’s major rivers—the Kaveri, the Ponnaiyar, the Palar, the Vaigai, and the Tambraparni—flow eastward from the inland hills.

Anamalai hills Apart from the rich alluvial soil of the river deltas, the predominant soils of the state are clays, loams, sands, and red laterites (soils with a high content of iron oxides and aluminum hydroxide). The black cotton-growing soil known as regur is found in parts of the central, west-central, and southeastern regions of Tamil Nadu

Plant and animal life Forests cover roughly 15 percent of the state. At the highest elevations in the Western Ghats, the mountains support sub alpine vegetation. Along the eastern side of the Western Ghats and in the hills of the northern and central districts, the plant life is a mixture of evergreen and deciduous species, some of which are markedly adapted to arid conditions. Tamil Nadu has several national parks and more than a dozen wildlife and bird sanctuaries. Among the most notable of these protected areas are the Mudlumbai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the Nilgiri Hills and the large India Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park at the southern tip of the Western Ghats. These sanctuaries provide a safe habitat for a broad spectrum of fauna, including elephants, gaurs (wild cattle), Nilgiri tahrs (goatlike mammals), wild boars, sloth bears, and various species of deer. Tigers, leopards, and an assortment of primates, including macaques, langurs, and lorises, also inhabit these areas.

Flora and Fauna There are about 2000 species of

wildlife that are native to Tamil Nadu. Protected areas provide safe habitat for large mammals including elephants, tigers ,leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears , gaurs, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs, Nilgiri tahrs, grizzled giant squirrels and sambar deer, resident and migratory birds such as cormorants, darters, herons, egrets, open-billed storks, spoonbills and white ibises, little grebes, Indian moorhen black-winged stilts, a few migratory ducks and occasionally grey pelicans, marine species such as the dugongs, turtles, dolphins, 

Agricultural resoures

 Paddy Paddy is the principal crop extensively

cultivated in all the districts of the state having a unique three-season pattern Kuruva /Sornavar (April to July), Samba/ Thaladi/Pishanam(August to November) and Navarai/ Kodai (December to March). Paddy accounted for 34.0% of the total cropped area in the state during 05-06. Villupura district is at the top with an area of 168435 ha followed by Nagapattinam district with 158100 ha, Thiruvaru district 156098 ha and Thanjavur district 154901 ha.

( Government of Tamil Nadu Department of Economics Statistics Season and Crop Report 2005-06 )

Jowar (Cholam) Jowar known as Cholam in Tamilnadu

was grown in about 316274 ha constituting 5.2% of the total cropped area of the state. Jowar is sown in both under rain-fed as well as irrigated conditions. Coimbatore, Dindigul, Trichirapalli, Namakkal, Karur, Salem, Theni, Dharmapuri, Madurai and Vellore districts have contributed 85.2% of the total area under this crop in the state during 05-06.

Bajra (Cumbu) Bajra known as Cumbu in Tamilnadu

is generally sown under rain-fed conditions in the state. The area under the crop during 05-06 is 81925 ha constituting 1.3% of the total cropped area in the State. Bajra is generally grown in Thoothukudi, Villupuram,, Virudhunagar, Karur and Madurai districts that together accounted for 64.3% of the total area under this crop during 05-06.

 Ragi The area under Ragi constitutes about

1.7% of the total cropped area in the state in 05-06. Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Erode and Vellore districts together accounted for 92.2% of the total area under this crop during 05-06.The Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.Other Millets

Maize, Korra, Varagu, Samai, Kudhiraivali and Panivaragu constitue other millets which are sparsely grown in the state.

Maize Maize : is the major contributor

accounting for 83.4% (202830 ha) of the total area under other millets. It is mainly grown in Perambalur, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Virudhunagar districts and they together share 77.1 % of the total area under this crop in the state.Pulses

pulses Of the 3316637 ha under Foodgrains, the area under Pulses was 525237 ha. which is 15.8% of the area under foodgrains. Pulses can grow both in rainfed and irrigated conditions. They comprise of Redgram, Greengram, Blackgram, Horsegram, Bengal gram, Cowpea, Mochai, Naripayaru etc.

 Blackgram Blackgram is one of the important pulses

grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons. It accounts for 41.0% of the total area under pulses during the current year. This crop was extensively grown in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Toothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Villupuram districts and these districts together accounted for 77.7% of the total area under the crop during 05-06.The Area, production and yield rate of Blackgram is shown in the table below.

 Greengram Greengram is one of the major pulses

widely consumed next to Blackgram. It is grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons. The crop was extensively cultivated in Thoothukudi, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Virudhunagar districts which together accounted for 60.7% of the total area under this crop in the state during 05-06..

Redgram Redgram is sown mainly under

rain-fed condition. Vellore district stands first (12321 ha) in the cultivation of Redgram with 32.6% of the total area under this crop during 05-06. 

  Horsegram Horsegram Crop is grown both in Kharif and Rabi Seasons. Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts are the main districts in the cultivation of horse gram with 53.3% of the total area under this crop during 05-06

 Bengalgram Bengalgram is mainly sown in Rabi

season. Coimbatore district stands first in the cultivation of Bengalgram with 76.2% of the area under the crop in the state during 05-06.

Sugarcane Sugarcane is the most important

commercial crop grown in the State. Out of 335397 ha of area under Sugarcane, 63.4% is planted and 37.6% is Ratoon.

Villupuram, Erode, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Dharmapuri, Namakkal and Salem districts together accounted for 74.3% of the total Sugarcane area of the state during 05-06

Chillies Chillies is another important commercial

crop grown in the State. This is mainly grown in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts and sparsely grown in almost all other districts. These two districts together share 63.4% of the total area under this crop during 05-06

Potato Potato is a major vegetable widely

consumed throughout Tamilnadu whereas it is grown only in the hilly areas of Dindigul, The Nilgiris, Krishnagiri and Erode districts. Dindigul and The Nilgiris districts together constitute about 94.8% of potato area in the state during 05-06.

Banana Banana is the third trinity of Fruits

and is also grown all over the State. Banana is the most widely consumed and is available in all seasons and in different varieties in the State. The Total area under Banana is 94648 ha. in the state during 05-06. Thoothukudi, Trichirapalli, Coimbatore, Erode, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Vellore and Thanjavur districts together accounted for 60.2% of the total area under this crop during 05-06.

 Mango Mango is one of the trinity of Fruits

in Tamilnadu and is a seasonal one. It is generally grown under rain-fed conditions in the state. The area under the crop during 05-06 is 125104 ha in the State. Mango is generally grown all over the state and concentrated specifically in the districts of Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Vellore, Tiruvallur and Dharmapuri that together accounted for 63.9 % of the total area under this crop during 05-06.

Groundnut Groundnut is the major crop

under oilseeds accounting for 10.3% of the total cropped area in the state during 05-06. It is raised as both rain-fed as well as irrigated crop. Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Villupuram, Namakkal, Erode and Salem districts constitute 54.9% of the area under groundnut in the state during 05-06.

 Coconut Coconut is a perennial crop raised

extensively in Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Vellore, Erode, Tirunelveli, Theni, Krishnagiri, Salem and Madurai districts. The area under coconut in these districts accounted for 77.8% of the total area under this crop during 05-06.

Gingelly , Gingelly is the major oilseed crop in

the state. Erode, Villupuram, Karur, Thanjavur, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Cuddalore and Perambalur districts accounted for 67.8% of the total area under this crop during 05-06.

Cotton As a commercial crop different varieties of cotton are grown to the extent of 109742 ha in the state during the year under report. The major cotton growing districts are Salem, Virudhunagar, Madurai and Vellore together accounted for 42.1% of the total area under cotton during 05-06. 

Cashewnut Cashewnut is the most important

commercial crop in the State. It was grown in about 106059 ha in the state during 05-06. Cashewnut is sown mostly in sandy soil conditions. Perambalur, Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts have contributed 72.4% of the total area under this crop in the state during 05-06.

Mineral Resources of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is the leading holder of country's resources of vermiculite, magnetite, Dunite, Rutile, garnet, molybdenum and limonite. The State accounts for the country's 81% lignite, 75% vermiculite, 69% Dunite, 59% garnet, 52% molybdenum and 30% titanium minerals resources. Important minerals that are found to occur in the State are as follows:

 

Bauxite in Dindigu, Namakka, Nilgiri & Salem districts; 

Dunite/pyroxenit in Salem district;  Felspa in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode,

Kanchipuram, Karur, Namakkal, Salem & Tiruchirapalli districts;

Fireclay in Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Thiruvallur, Tiruchirapalli, Vellore & Villupuram districts; 

Garnet in Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruvarur, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur & Tirunelveli districts; 

 

Gypsum in Coimbatore, Perambalur, Ramnathapuram, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi & Virudhunagar districts. Similarly, occurrences of minerals, such as

Lignite deposits are located in Cuddalore Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam & Ramanathapuram districts; 

Limestone in Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kanchipuram, Karur, Madurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Perambalur, Ramnathapuram, Salem, Thiruvallur, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Villupuram & Virudhunagar districts; 

Magnesite in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Karur, Namakkal, Nilgiri, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli & Vellore districts;

Quartz/silica sand in Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Kanchipuram, Karur, Madurai, Namakkal, Periyar, Perambalur, Salem, Thiruvallur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, Villupuram, Virudhunagar & Vellore districts; 

Talc/ steatite/soapstone in Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirapalli & Vellore districts; 

Titanium minerals in Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvallur, Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi districts; 

Vermiculite in Dharmapuri, Tiruchirapalli & Vellore districts; 

Zircon in Kanyakumari district has been established. Other minerals that occur in the State areapatite in Dharmapuri & Vellore districts; 

Barytes in Erode, Madurai, Perambalur, Tirunelveli & Vellore districts; 

Bentonite in Chengai-Anna district;  Calcite in Salem district;  China Clay in Cuddalore, Dharampuri,

Kanchipuram, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Thiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchirapalli & Villupuram districts; 

Chromite in Coimbatore & Salem districts;  Copper, lead-zinc and silver in Villupuram

district; Corundum and gold in Dharmapuri district;  Dolomite in Salem & Tirunelveli districts; 

Iron ore (magnetite) in Dharmapuri, Erode, Nilgiris, Salem, Thiruvannamalai, Tiruchirapalli & Villupuram districts; 

Kainite in Kanyakumari & Tirunelveli districts; 

Molybdenum in Dharmapuri, Dindigul & Vellore districts; 

Pyrite in Vellore district;  Sillimanite in Kanyakumari, Karur &

Tirunelveli districts;  Tungsten in Madurai & Dindigul

districts; 

Wollastonite in Dharmapuri & Tirunelveli districts. Districtwise reserves/resources of lignite are provided in 

Petroleum and natural gas deposits are located in Cauvery basin

  Graphite in Madurai, Ramnathapuram, Shivganga & Vellore districts;