India is a country with a huge landmass. Because of the vastness, India’s geography is unique and interesting in many ways. The following are 11 amazing facts about the geography of India. Let’s read.
11 amazing facts about the geography of India
The wettest place on Earth is in India
Mawsynram is the wettest place on Earth located in the Indian state of Meghalaya. It receives about 11,802.4 mm (1974-2022) of average annual rainfall which is 20 times more than the average annual rainfall for the city of London. Cherrapunji, also located in Meghalaya, is the second wettest place in the world with an average annual rainfall of 11,780 mm.
(Also read: The top Wettest places on Earth | Rainiest places in the world)
India has an island resided by uncontacted people
North Sentinel island is a small island in the Andaman island group. It is resided by the Sentinelese people who are still untouched by the modern world. Travelling to the island is prohibited by the Indian government. There have been instances when the Sentinelese people have killed people who tried to contact them.
India is a land of extreme temperatures
There are some towns in India that experience a winter temperature of below -30 degrees Celsius. On the contrary, there are some towns that experience a summer temperature of above 50 degrees Celsius. India is truly a land of diverse climates and extreme temperatures.
Many of the highest points in the world are in India
There are 39 peaks in India having elevations above 7,000 m. The third-highest peak in the world, the Kanchenjunga lies in India and has an elevation of 8,586 m.
(Also read: Nanda Devi peak- The enchanting mountain)
India has some interesting international borders
In many regions bordering Pakistan and China, India’s sovereignty fails. In Jammu and Kashmir, the de facto borders are different from the actual de jure borders. The McMahon line forms the international border in Arunachal Pradesh. However, China doesn’t agree with it.
Interestingly, before 2015 there were 51 enclaves of Bangladesh in India and 111 enclaves of India in Bangladesh. In 2015, this issue was finally solved after more than 40 years. The residents of the enclaves were given the freedom to choose the country of their choice.
(Also read: India’s borders | International borders in India)
Tropic of Cancer passes through India
The Tropic of Cancer passes through India approximately cutting it into two equal parts. It passes through 8 states – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tripura and Mizoram. It is because of the Tropic Of Cancer that India gets its distinct seasons.
The largest delta in the world is in India
The Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta is the largest delta in the world. It is shared by India and Bangladesh. Despite the harsh environment and the presence of Tigers, millions live on the delta and obtain their daily needs from it.
India has some of the highest permanent human settlements
There are many high-altitude villages and towns in India. Karzok, a village in Ladakh, is the third-highest permanent human settlement in the world. It is located at an elevation of 4,570 m.
There are more than 7 major mountain ranges in India
The topography of India is quite diverse. There are so many mountain ranges across India. Some famous ones are –
- Himalayan range
- Karakoram range
- Aravali range
- Satpura range
- Nilgiri hills
- Western Ghats
- Eastern Ghats
(Also read: 10 major mountain ranges in India | subranges | destinations)
There are a total of 6 seasons in most parts of India
India because of its location has 6 seasons around the year. These 6 seasons are Winter (Shishir), Summer (Grishma), Monsoon (Varsha), Spring (Vasant), Pre-winter (Hemant), and Autumn (Sharad).
The largest and the second-largest mangrove forests are in India
Sundarbans mangrove forest is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Its location is shared by India and Bangladesh. 60% of the Sundarbans forest is located in Bangladesh and the rest in India. The second-largest mangrove forest, Pichavaram is also located in India in the state of Tamil Nadu.