KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / PHYSIOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

 

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / PHYSIOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / PHYSIOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Physiography: Kerala is divided into three geographical regions:

·      Highlands

·      Midlands

·      Lowlands

 

HIGHLANDS

·      The Highlands slope down from the Western Ghats (also known as the Sahyadri) which rise to an average height of 900m, with a number of peaks well over 1800m in height. It is 18650 sq.km in area and accounts for 48 percent of the total land area of Kerala.

·      This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber and various spices. This area is often known as the Cardamom Hills.

·      Anaimudi (2695 meters-8130ft), the highest peak in Kerala after the Himalayas, is in the Munnar division of the Western Ghats.

·      The unbroken chain of the Western Ghats only breaks at Palakkad where a natural rocky pass called Palakkad Gap is located

·      Most of the rivers of Kerala originate from the Western Ghats.

·      Eastern Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys. Immediately West of the Western Ghats’ is the rain shadow region.

·      Forty-one of Kerala’s west-flowing rivers, and three of its east-flowing ones originate in this region.

 

MIDLANDS

·      The Midlands, lying between the mountains and the valley, is made up of undulating hills and valleys. It is 16200 sq.km in area ie, about 40 percent of the total land area.

·      Valleys in this region are broad and are utilized for growing paddy and the Hill slopes are used for growing cash crops like pepper, tapioca and plantation trees like rubber, banana etc…

·      This region ranges between altitudes of 250-100m and form the part of Nilgiri and Palani hills including Anamalai and Agastyamalai.

 

LOWLAND

·      Lowlands are also known as the Coastal Area. It covers an area of almost 4000 sq.km.

·      It is made up of numerous shallow lagoons known locally as kayels, river deltas, backwaters and shores of the Arabian Sea and is essentially a land of coconuts and rice.

·      This area is very fertile and most of the paddy cultivation is along this area. Kuttanad region of Kerala is one of the very few places in India where cultivation is done below sea level. Water is the main mode of transportation in these areas.

KERALA PSC / KERALA GEOGRAPHY / PHYSIOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF KERALA / NOTES / OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS / STUDY MATERIALS / GENERAL KNOWLEDGE