Geographic location relief and climate of India. India. Bituminous coal and oil

One of the most popular Asian countries for tourists is India. It attracts people with its distinctive culture, grandeur of ancient architectural structures and lush beauty of nature. But the most important reason why many people go there to rest is the climate of India. It is so diverse in different parts of the country that it allows you to choose entertainment to your liking at any time of the year: sunbathe on a sunny beach or go skiing in a mountain resort.

If tourists go to India to see the sights, then it is advisable to choose a time so that the heat or rain does not interfere. Features: geographic location countries affect its climate. You can choose a place to rest depending on what temperature you prefer. Heat, sunny beaches and cool mountain air, and rains, hurricanes - this is all India.

Geographical position

The climate of this country is so diverse due to the peculiarities of its location. India stretches 3,000 kilometers from north to south, and 2,000 kilometers from west to east. The vertical drop is about 9,000 meters. The country occupies almost the entire huge Indian subcontinent, washed by the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

India's climate is very diverse. Four types of it can be distinguished: dry tropical, humid tropical, subequatorial monsoon, and alpine. And at a time when the beach season begins in the south, real winter sets in in the mountains, and the temperature drops below zero. There are areas where almost all year round it rains, and in others the plants suffer from drought.

The nature and climate of India

The country is located in the subequatorial zone, but it is much warmer there than elsewhere in this strip. How can this be explained? In the north, the country is fenced off from the cold Asian winds of the Himalayas, and in the northwest, the Thar Desert occupies a large area, which attracts warm, wet monsoons. They determine the peculiarities of the Indian climate. Monsoons bring rain and heat to the country. On the territory of India is - Cherrapunji, where more than 12,000 millimeters of precipitation falls per year. And in the north-west of the country, at about 10 months there is not a drop of rain. Some eastern states are also suffering from drought. And if in the south of the country it is very hot - the temperature rises to 40 degrees, then in the mountains there are places of eternal glaciation: the Zaskar and Karakorum ranges. And the climate of coastal zones is influenced by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Seasons in India

In most of the country, three seasons can be conventionally distinguished: winter, which lasts from November to February, summer, which lasts from March to June, and the rainy season. This division is arbitrary, because the monsoons have little effect on the eastern coast of India, and there is no rain in the Thar desert. Winter in the usual sense of the word comes only in the north of the country, in mountainous regions. There the temperature sometimes drops to minus 3 degrees. And on the southern coast at this time is the beach season, and migratory birds fly here from the northern countries.

Rain season

This is the most interesting featurewhich the climate of India has. Monsoons coming from the Arabian Sea bring torrential rains across most of the country. At this time, about 80% of the annual precipitation falls. First, the rains begin in the west of the country. Already in May, Goa and Bombay are affected by the monsoons. Gradually, the rainy area moves eastward, and by July, the peak season is observed in most of the country. Hurricanes can happen on the coast, but they are not as devastating as in other countries near India. A little less precipitation falls on the east coast, and the rainiest place is where the rainy season lasts until November. In most of India, dry weather is set in September-October.

The rainy season brings relief from the heat to most parts of the country. And, despite the fact that at this time there are often floods, and the sky is overcast, farmers are looking forward to this season. Lush Indian vegetation thrives on the rains, produces good harvests, and removes all dust and dirt from cities. But monsoons do not bring rain to all parts of the country. In the foothills of the Himalayas, the climate of India is reminiscent of the European: and frosty winters. And in the northern state of Punjab, it almost never rains, so droughts are frequent there.

What a winter in India

From October onwards, dry and clear weather sets in most of the country. After the rains it becomes relatively cool, although in some areas, for example, on the coast, the heat is + 30-35 °, and the sea at this time warms up to + 27 °. The climate of India in winter is not very diverse: dry, warm and clear. Only in some areas it rains until December. Therefore, at this time there is a large influx of tourists.

Besides sunny beaches and warm sea \u200b\u200bwaterThey are attracted by the beauty of lush vegetation in the national parks of India and the unusual festivals that take place here in large numbers from November to March. This is a harvest, a festival of colors, a festival of lights, and even farewell to winter at the end of January. Christians celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and Hindus celebrate the Nativity of their deity - Ganesha Chaturti. In addition, the winter season opens in the mountain resorts of the Himalayas, and amateurs winter species sports can relax there.

Indian heat

Most of the country is warm all year round. If we consider the climate of India by months, then we can understand that this is one of the hottest countries in the world. Summer begins there in March, and in most states, a month later, the heat is unbearable. April-May is the peak of the highest temperature, in some places it rises to + 45 °. And since it is also very dry at this time, this weather is very exhausting. It is especially difficult for people in large citieswhere dust is added to the heat. Therefore, for a long time wealthy Indians at this time left for the northern mountainous regions, where the temperature is always comfortable and in the hottest time rarely rises to + 30 °.

When is the best time to visit India

This country is beautiful at any time of the year, and every tourist can find a place that he likes with its weather. Depending on what interests: relaxing on the beach, visiting attractions or observing nature, you need to choose the place and time of the trip. General advice for everyone is not to visit Central and South India from April to July, as it is very hot during this time.

If you want to sunbathe and do not like getting wet, do not come during the rainy season, the worst months are June and July, when there is the most rainfall. The Himalayas are not worth visiting in winter - from November to March, because many areas are difficult to access due to snow on the passes. The best time to relax in India is the period from September to March. Almost all regions of the country at this time have a comfortable temperature - + 20-25 ° - and clear weather. Therefore, when planning a trip to these regions, it is advisable to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the weather in different regions and find out what the climate is in India by months.

Temperature in different parts of the country

  • The greatest temperature differences occur in the mountainous regions of India. In winter, there the thermometer can show minus 1-3 °, and high in the mountains - up to minus 20 °. June to August is the warmest time in the mountains, and the temperature ranges from +14 to + 30 °. Usually + 20-25 °.
  • In the northern states, the coldest time is in January when the thermometer reads + 15 °. In summer, the heat is about + 30 ° and higher.
  • The temperature difference is least felt in Central and South India, where it is always warm. In winter, at the coldest time, there is a comfortable temperature: + 20-25 °. From March to June it is very hot - + 35-45 °, sometimes the thermometer shows up to + 48 °. In the rainy season, it is slightly cooler - + 25-30 °.

India has always attracted tourists from all over the world. This is due not only to the beautiful nature, the variety of ancient buildings and the peculiar culture of the people. The most important thing that tourists like is the favorable location of the country and its pleasant climate throughout the year. India in any month can provide travelers with the opportunity to relax the way they want.

The relief of India is very diverse - from the plains in the South of India, to the glaciers in the North, in the Himalayas, and from the desert regions of the West, to rainforest in the East. Height above sea level varies from 0 to 8598 meters. The highest point is Mount Kaptspüpga.

On the territory of India, seven natural regions are distinguished: the Northern mountain range, (consisting of the Himalayas and the Karakorum), the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Great Indian Desert, the Southern Plateau (Deccan Plateau), the East Coast, the West Coast and the Adaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

The Deccan plateau (Deccan, comes from the word dakshin - southern), outside also represents a triangle, the apex of which is at the southern tip of India. It stretches for 1600 km from north to south and 1400 km from west to east. Geologically, the plateau is much older than the Himalayas. It is a Precambrian platform composed mostly of gneisses, granites, crystalline shales, limestones and sandstones. In some places, there are basalt outcrops of the Cretaceous period. On both sides, the plateau is bounded by the Eastern and Western Ghats. In the south are the Cardamom Mountains, made up of gneisses and shale, from which the spurs of the Palni and Anaimalai mountains extend. Anaimalai Mountains (highest point - Anaimudi, 2698 m) are the highest in South India.

Between the Deccan and the Himalayas, the alluvial Indo-Gangetic plain stretches along the Ganges in a wide arc. It is located in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Its length is about 3 thousand km, width is 250-350 km. The public area of \u200b\u200bthe plain is 650 thousand km2. The plain of the Ganges River stands out here, stretching for 1050 km and covering an area of \u200b\u200b319 thousand km2. In the west, the Thar Desert adjoins the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The desert begins at the Kachchha Rann and runs north along the Indo-Pakistani border.

The coastal lowlands border the Deccan plateau. The lowland of the western coast is a narrow flat belt stretching from Surat (Gujarat state) to Cape Kamorin for 1500 km. It is very diverse in its landscape. There are swamps, lagoons, silt deposits, river estuaries, bays and islands. Large rivers flowing into the Gulf of Cambay carry huge amounts of sediment here, which contributed to the creation of a comparatively large Gujarat Plain. To the south of it, the lowland narrows to 50 km. In the south of Kerala, the lowland expands again, reaching a length of up to 100 km.

In the northeast is the Chkhota Nagpur plateau (average height of about 600 m), above which individual tower-like ridges of dense sandstone rise to a height of 1366 m. The plateau descends in the north to the plain of the river. Ganges.

There are seven mountain ranges in India, with peaks higher than 1000 m: the Himalayas, Patkai or the Eastern Highlands, Aravali, Vindhya, Satpura, Sahyadri or the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.

The Himalayas (Himalaya, the Abode of the Snows) stretch from east to west (from the gorge of the Brahmaputra River to the Indus River) for 2500 km with a width of 150 to 400 km. The Himalayas are wider in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and rise to the greatest heights in eastern Nepal. 50 million years ago on the site of the Himalayas there was a huge Tethys Sea. In general, the Himalayas consist of 3 main ridges: the Sivalik mountains on the southern edge of the mountain system (average height 800-1200 m), the Huge Himalayas along the border with Tibet (5500-6000 m) and the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m), located between the Great Himalayas and the Sivalik Mountains. The Small and Huge Himalayas are characterized by alpine landforms and are deeply dissected by rivers.

Patkai or Purvachal stretch along the border of India with Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh. By the time of their formation, they are contemporaries of the Himalayas. The highest point is 4578 m.

Aravali in Northern India stretches for almost 725 km from northeast to southwest from Divide through the state of Rajasthan to the northeastern outskirts of Gujarat. It is an old folded chain made up of small parallel ridges, severely eroded, with flattened peaks and many scree. They are considered the remnants of a large mountain system, the tops of which were covered with snow. The highest point is Mount Guru Shikhar (1722 m) in the town of Mount Abu in southern Rajasthan.

Vindhya rises on the border of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Deccan Plateau, separating North India from South India. They stretch for a distance of 1050 km, separating the plain from the plateau. This is the southern steep edge of the Malva basalt plateau, strongly dissected by river valleys and does not form a continuous chain. Average height - up to 300 m, great height - 700-800 m.The highest point is 881 m.

In the northern part of the Deccan plateau, there are medium-altitude rocky ridges of Satpura, Mahadeo, Maikal, composed of gneisses, crystalline schists and other rocks, between which are located immense lava plateaus. Satpura in Central India stretches 900 km from East Gujarat off the coast of the Arabian Sea through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh, from the Western Lowlands along the interfluve of the Tapti and Narmada rivers. They run parallel to the Vindhya mountains south of the river Narmada, which flows in the lowlands between these mountain ranges. The highest point is Mount Dhupgarh, 1350 m.

Western Ghats, or Sadhadri (Sahyadri) stretch for 1600 km along the western coast of India - from the mouth of the river. Tapti to Cape Kamorin. The average height of the mountains is 900 m.Their western slope descends to the sea in steep ledges, the eastern one is gentle, cut by valleys big rivers (Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi). Their southern continuation is the horst massifs of Nilgiri, Anaimalai, the Cardamom Mountains with sharpened peaks, steep slopes, and deep gorges. The highest point is Doddabetta (2633 m) in the northwestern part of Tamil Nadu state.

The eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau is formed by the Eastern Ghats. They stretch along the east coast of India, from West Bengal, through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu. The Eastern Ghats connect with the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Mountains. They are dissected into separate massifs by strong rivers flowing from west to east as a result of a slope to the east of the Deccan plateau. The highest point is 1680 m.

The main centers of glaciation are concentrated in the Karakorum and on the southern slopes of the Zaskar ridge in the Himalayas. The glaciers are fed by snowfalls during the summer monsoons and snow drifts from the slopes. The average height of the snow line decreases from 5300 m in the west to 4500 m in the east. Glaciers are retreating due to global warming.

Capital - Delhi.
Time ahead of Moscow by 2.5 hours.
Square - 3,287,000 sq. Km.
Population - about 1 billion people.
National language: Hindi, English is common. India knows no equal in the number of languages. According to the latest census, 1,652 languages \u200b\u200bwere registered in India, 15 of which are included in special application to the Constitution. Modern literary language Hindi, the official language of the seven northern states, is also the state language of the Indian Union.
National currency: Indian rupee, 100INR \u003d 2.3042USD.
Religion: 80% of the population are Hindus, Muslims constitute a significant religious minority - 12%. The number of Christians reaches only 18 million. These are mainly Catholics and Protestants. There are also Orthodox parishes. Of the confessions born on Indian soil, Sikhism stands out, the number of followers of which exceeds 17 million. In Mumbai (formerly Bombay), there is a small (about 200 thousand) but influential community of Parsi fire-worshipers. In the coastal cities of Kerala, you can find followers of Judaism (about 6 thousand). About 26 thousand representatives of aboriginal tribes profess various pagan beliefs.
Geographical position
India is located on the Indian subcontinent between the headwaters of the Indus system in the Punjab in the West and the Ganges river system in the East.
The southeastern part of Hindustan forms a vast plain - Tamil Nadu.
The Indian subcontinent is sometimes called the Indian subcontinent - and there is every reason for this, both because of its impressive size (about 2 thousand km in the East-West direction and 3 thousand km in the direction of Sevre-South), and for its geological history - in the distant past, Hindustan, due to continental drift) separated from Africa and "drifted" to Asia.

Relief
In the south stretches the vast Deccan plateau (1600 km from north to south and 1400 km from west to east), which has an arid climate, rapids, rivers that are very shallow in winter and drought-resistant vegetation such as savannas and forests with deciduous leaves.
The Deccan is an arid hilly plateau bounded in the west and east by the Western (higher) and Eastern Ghats mountains. The rivers Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri flow through the Deccan plateau in the direction from West to East. Interestingly, to modern concepts, the Deccan plateau was formed tens of millions of years ago as a result of "swelling" earth surface from an asteroid impact from the opposite side of the globe in the Gulf of Mexico (it was this disaster that was probably the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs).
In the north, there is the world's highest system of the Himalayan ("Abode of the Snows") mountains (the highest point of Chomolungma - 8848 m above sea level) with snow peaks and glaciers; in the east is the fertile valley of the Ganges.
In addition to the Himalayas, six more large mountain ranges rise on the territory of India: Paktai (Eastern Highlands), Aravali, Vindhya, Saptura, Sadyari (Western Ghats), Eastern Ghats.
The Himalayas stretch from east to west (from the Brahmaputra River to the Indus River) for 2500 km with a width of 150 to 400 km. The Himalayas consist of three main mountain ranges: the Sivalik Mountains in the south (800-1200 m), then the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m) and the Greater Himalayas (5500-6000 m).
The Paktai Mountains (Purvachal, Eastern Highlands) stretch along India's border with Burma and Bangladesh. the highest point is 4578 m.
The Araval mountains stretch 725 km from Delido pcs. Gujarat. The highest point is Mount Guru (1722 m).
The Vindhya Mountains rise on the border of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Deccan Plateau. They stretch for a distance of 1050 km, heights - up to 700-800 m.
The Satpur Mountains chain stretches for 900 km from the Western Lowland to the interfluve of Tapti and Narmada. The highest point - Dhupgarh - 1350 m.
Western Ghats (Sadhryadri) stretch for 1600 km along the western coast of India 1600 km - from the mouth of the river. Tapti to Cape Kamorin. The highest point is Mount Dodabetta (2633 m).
The Eastern Ghats stretch along the east coast of India. The highest point is 1680 m.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain occupies the central and eastern part of India, its area is 319 thousand square kilometers. Up to 250 million people live on the territory of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
To the west, the Thar Desert (Thar, Great Indian Desert) adjoins the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Minerals
The minerals of India are diverse and their reserves are significant. The main deposits are located in the north-east of the country. On the border of the states of Orisa and Bihar, there are iron ore basins that are among the most important in the world (the largest is Singbhum on the Chhota Nagpur plateau). The iron ores are of high quality. General geological reserves amount to over 19 billion tons. India also possesses significant reserves of manganese ores. Somewhat north of the iron ore are the main coal basins (in the states of Bihar, West Bengal), but these coals are of low quality. The explored reserves of hard coal in the country amount to about 23 billion tons (the total coal reserves in India, according to various sources, are estimated at 140 billion tons).
In the north-east of the country, there is a concentration of minerals that is especially favorable for the development of heavy industry. The state of Bihar is the richest region in India with minerals.
The minerals of South India are diverse. These are bauxite, chromite, magnesite, brown coal, graphite, mica, diamonds, gold, monazite sands. Central India (eastern Madhya Pradesh) also has significant deposits of ferrous metals and coal.

Inland waters
The rivers Ganges (2510 km), Brahmaputra (2900 km), Indus (2879 km), Narbada and others abound in water and navigable over a large extent. Many Deccan rivers dry up during the dry season. Floods are frequent in Northern India during the rainy season.
Climate
India's climate is very diverse.

In the Himalayas region, cold winters, occasionally frost and snow. On the northern plains - cool winters and sharp fluctuations in temperature and depending on the time of day, summers are very hot.
On the Deccan plateau, temperature fluctuations are small, but in higher areas, nights are cold in winter.
It is always hot on the plains of Tamiland, but temperatures do not rise as high as in the northern regions of the country.
The most important feature Indian climates are rainy seasons (monsoons). It lasts from June for about 2 months. The rest of the year is characterized by aridity (with the exception of the west coast).
Animal and vegetable world
The Hindustan Peninsula is a whole continent, the climatic and geographical originality of which contributes to the prosperity of flora and fauna.
In India there are about 45 thousand plant species, of which 15 thousand are found only in India. Forests in India cover an area of \u200b\u200b639 thousand square kilometers, which is 19.45% of the entire country.
India has approximately 82,000 different types animals, of which 850 species of mammals, 2000 species of birds, 2500 species of fish, 150 species of amphibians, 450 species of reptiles, approximately 60 thousand species of insects.
Although the species ranges overlap, each region has its own distinctiveness. Hangul habitat is limited to the Kashmir Valley in northern India, rhinos are encountered in separate floodplains along the Brahmaputra River in the east, black langur in the Western Ghats, and Western India serves as a refuge for the last remaining Asiatic lions.
The two most impressive species, the Bengal tiger and the Indian elephant, are still found throughout the territory, although in recent times their population has declined greatly.
The Bengal tiger is 3 meters long and weighs up to 290 kg. Even in the recent past, tigers were mercilessly destroyed, and by 1973, when a special program to restore the population of Bengal tigers was started, there were only 1,827 individuals. By 1986, the population of Bengal tigers had increased to 4230 individuals.
The Indian elephant is somewhat smaller than the African elephant. Its size reaches 3 meters in height and 3.2 in length. And, unlike the African one, it lends itself well to training and has long become a pet. In the Ancient World, Indian elephants were often used in the military.
The Asiatic (Gir) lion has survived only in the Gir forest on the Kathivar Peninsula in Western India. Its number reaches 210-220 individuals.
Gaur or Indian bison is the largest hoofed animal in India. The male reaches 95 cm in height and weighs over 900 kg.
The large Indian rhino is 180 cm high and 335 cm long and its horn is 61 cm long. Indian rhinos are found mainly in Kaziranga National Park.
The only representative of the great apes, the Hulok gibbon, is found in the forests of Assam. The height of the male reaches 90 cm, weight up to 8 kg.
Langur is the most common monkey species in India. The male langur reaches 75 cm in height and weighs up to 21 kg.
The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in India. Reaches a length of 5, 5 m. The bite of a king cobra is fatal even for an elephant.
Indian cobra (another species poisonous snakes) reaches a length of 180 cm.
Ganges gavial lives in the Ganges valley. The length of this crocodile reaches 6.6 m. The population of this crocodile is rather small.
In order to preserve rare and scarce species of flora and fauna, 83 national parks, 447 reserves, 23 tiger reserves, 200 zoos and 8 biosphere reserves have been created in India.

Reserves and national parks
National park Dachigam (Kashmir)
Wide valley: mountain slopes. Live here rare view deer - hangul, black and brown bears, leopards; nesting herons. Airport: Srinagar, 22 km. Railway station: Jammu, 311 km. Season: June - July. Accommodation: Srinagar - houses on the water on the Dal and Nagin lakes.
Govind Sagar Bird Sanctuary (Himachal Pradesh)
The bird sanctuary is inhabited by cranes, ducks, geese, teals. Airport: Chandigarh, 135 km. Railway station: Nangal, 13 km. Accommodation: You can stay in Bakr.
Corbett National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
Foothills of the Himalayas in the vicinity of Dikal; salt marshes and plains. Fauna: tigers, elephants, leopards and a variety of birds. Great fishing in the Ramganga river. Airport: Pantnagar, 115 km. Railway station: Ramnagar, 51 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Dadwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
Nepal border. It is home to tigers, sloth bears and panthers. Airport: Lucknow, 251 km. Railway station: Dadva, 4 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation in the park.
Flower Valley National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
During flowering, this "garden on the roof of the world", ascended to an altitude of 3500 m, dazzles with exuberant colors. Location: 44 km from Badrinath. Railway station: Rishikesh, 280 km. Season: June - July.
Sariska National Park (Rajasthan)
About 200 km from Delhi. Forest and open plains. Sambar (the largest of the Indian deer), chetal (sika deer), nilgai (Indian antelope), black deer, leopard, tiger; good night view. Airport: Jaipur, 160 km. Railway station: Alwar, 35 km (bus service). Season: February - June. Accommodation: in the park.
Ranthambhor (Sawai-Madhopur - Rajasthan)
Hilly forests, plains and lakes. Sambar, Chinkara (Indian gazelle), tiger, sloth bear, crocodiles and migratory water birds. Airport: Jaipur, 162 km. Railway station: Sava-Madhopur, 11 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: in the park and in Sawai Madhopur.
Bandhavgari National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Located in the Vindja Mountains. The park has a diverse fauna including panthers, sambars and gaurs. Airport: Jabalpur, 166 km. Railway station: Umaria, 34 km. Accommodation: forest hotel in the park.
Bharatpur National Park (Keoloadeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary) (Rajasthan)
The most famous bird sanctuary in India. There are many unique water birds, a large number of migrants from Siberia and China; whether cranes, geese, herons, snake-catchers, etc. Airport: Agra, 52 km. Railway station: Bharatpur, 5 km. Road connections: 176 km from Jaipur, 177 km from Delhi. Season: September - February. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Saline forests and savannah. The only place where barshingha (swamp deer) lives; in addition, there are tiger, chetal, gaur (Indian bison), monkeys. Airport: Nagpur, 270 km. Railway station: Jabalpur, 170 km. Season: November - March. Accommodation: in the park, in Kana and Kisli.
Shivpuri National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Open forests and lake. Fauna: chinkara, chousingha (four-horned antelope), nilgai, tiger, leopard, water birds. Airport: Jhansi, 95 km. Season: February - May. Accommodation: motel, forest rest house.
Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
Meadows and swamps. Fauna: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, water bull, tiger, leopard, elephant, deer, various birds. It is possible to move around the park on elephants. Airports: Jorhat, 96 km, and Guwahati, 217 km. Railway station: Furcating, 78 km. Season: February - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Manas Nature Reserve (Assam)
On the border with Bhutan. The rainforest, savannah and river banks are inhabited by rhinoceros, water ox, tiger, elephant, golden langur, water birds. Fishing is allowed. Airport: Guwahati, 176 km. Railway station: Sarupeta, 40 km. Season: January - March. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Palamau Tiger Sanctuary (Bihar)
Stony and wooded hills. Tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, wild tropical cat, rhesus monkey, rarely wolf. Airport: Ranchi, 155 km. Railway station: Daltonganj, 19 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: in Belte.
Khazaribag National Park (Bihar)
Salt marshes and wooded hills. Sambar, nilgai, chetal, tiger, leopard, rarely - muntjak (big barking deer). Airport: Ranchi, 100 km. Railway station: Khazaribag, 67 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: in the park.
Sunderbans Tiger Sanctuary (West Bengal)
Mangrove forests. Tiger, river cat, deer, crocodile, dolphin, various birds. Transport: external and internal transportation by boats. Airport: Kolkata, 48 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: there are no hotels and facilities for overnight stay on the territory and near the reserve.
Jaldapara Nature Reserve (West Bengal)
Rainforest and savannah. Rhinoceros, elephant, various birds. Airport: Bagdogra, 155 km. Railway station: Madari Hut, 11 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: rest house in Jaldapar.
Similipal Tiger Sanctuary (Orissa)
Extensive salt marsh forest. Tiger, elephant, leopard, sambar, chetal, deer-muntjak and deer. Airport: Bhubaneswar, 310 km. Railway station: Baripada, 50 km. Season: November - June. Accommodation: tourist holiday homes in the vicinity.
Periyar Nature Reserve (Kerala)
Large artificial lake. Elephant, gaur, wild dog, black langur, beavers, turtles; numerous species of birds, including the hornbill and the water owl. Inspection from the water. Airports: Madurai, 160 km, Cochin, 208 km, and Thiruvananthapuram, 258 km. Railway station: Madurai, Kottayam, 110 km, and Bodinayakanur, 67 km. Residence: a good choice hotels in the vicinity of the reserve.
Vedanthangal Waterfowl Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
One of the most picturesque mass nesting sites in India. Cormorants, herons, storks, pelicans, grebes and many others. Airport: Chennai (Madras), 85 km. Railway station: Chengalpattu, 28 km. Season: October - March. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Point Calimer Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
It is primarily known for its flamingos. There are herons, teals, curlews, plovers and black goats and wild boars. Airport: Tiruchirappalli, 200 km. Train station: Point Calimer, 0.5 km. Season: November - January. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Pulikat Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh)
Flamingo, gray pelican, heron, tern. Airport and railway station: Chennai (Madras), 60 km. Accommodation: overnight in Nelluru.
Dandeli National Park (Karnataka)
The park is inhabited by bison, panthers, tigers and sambars. Easily accessible from Goa. Airport: Belgaon, 142 km. Railway station: Alnaver, 20 km. Accommodation: Holiday Homes in Coolji Forest and Mandurli and River View Bungalows in Dandeli.
Javhar National Park includes the Bandipur and Nagarhol National Parks (Karnataka) and the Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala) nature reserves
Thick mixed forest... Largest elephant population in India; leopard, gaur, sambar, muntjak deer and giant squirrel. Among the birds are the Indian cuckoo, barbet and trogon.
Bandipur (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore, 190 km. Railway station: Mysore, 65 km. Available to tourists from Coyamputura and Udagamandalam. Accommodation: in the park.
Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu)
Airport: Coyamputtour, 16 km. Railway station: Udagamandalam, 68 km.
Nagarhol (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore. Railway station: Maysur. Accommodation: tourist cottages.
Wayanad (Kerala)
Airport: Cochin, 300 km. Railway station: Calicut, 111 km. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Krishnagiri Upavan National Park (Maharashtra)
Formerly known as Borivili, this reserve protects an important natural area near Bombay. Kanheri caves, lakes Vihar, Tulsi and Povari. Waterfowl and small mammals. Open-air cinema next to Lion Safari Park. Airport: Mumbai (Bombay), 20 km. Railway station: Borivili, 3 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: tourist cottages.
Taroba National Park (Maharashtra)
Teak forest and lake. Tiger, leopard, nilgai, gaur. Night inspections. Airport: Nagpur, 208 km. Railway station: Chandrapur, 45 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Sasangir National Park (Gujarat)
Wooded plains and lake. The only habitat of the Asiatic lion; other fauna: sambar, chosingha, nilgai, leopard, chinkara and wild boar. Airport: Rajkot, 153 km. Railway station: Sasangir, 0.5 km. Season: January - May. Accommodation: in the park.
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat)
Lake. Migratory water birds. Local bird species include flamingos. Airport: Ahmedabad, 64 km. Railway station: Viramgam, 40 km. Season: November - February. Accommodation: there are conditions for living near the lake.
Reserve "Small Kachsky Rain" (Gujarat)
Desert. Herds of chickens (Indian wild donkey), wolf, caracal. Airport: Ahmedabad, 195 km. Railway station: Dhangadra, 25 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve and in Dhangadra. Travel from Bhuj is possible.
Velwadar National Park (Gujarat)
Savannah of the New Delta. Large concentration of black goats. Airport and railway station: Bhavnagar, 65 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: in the park.

Industry and manufacturing
In the chemical industry, the production of mineral fertilizers is distinguished. The importance of petrochemicals is growing. Resins, plastics, chemical fibers, synthetic rubber are produced. Pharmaceuticals are well developed. The chemical industry is represented in many cities of the country.
Light industry is a traditional branch of the Indian economy. The cotton and jute industries are particularly prominent. In the production of cotton fabrics, India is one of the leading countries in the world, and in the production of jute products (technical, packaging, furniture fabrics, carpets) it takes first place. The largest centers of the cotton industry are Bombay and Ahmedabad, the jute industry is Calcutta. There are textile factories in all major cities of the country. In India's exports, textile and clothing industry products account for 25%.
The food industry produces goods both for domestic consumption and for export. Indian tea is the most widely known in the world. Its production is concentrated in Kolkata and in the south of the country. India ranks first in the world in terms of tea exports.
Agriculture. The leading branch of agriculture in India is crop production (4/5 of the value of all products). The sown area is 140 million hectares, but there are practically no land resources for new development. Agriculture needs irrigation (40% of the cultivated area is irrigated). Forests are being cut down (slash-fire farming is still preserved).
The main part of the cultivated area is occupied by food crops: rice, wheat, corn, etc. The main industrial crops in India are cotton, jute, tea, sugar cane, tobacco, oilseeds (rapeseed, peanuts, etc.). Coconut trees, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, citrus fruits, herbs and spices are also grown. Agricultural year is almost universally divided into two seasons in India - harif (summer) and rabi (winter). Large land fund.
Livestock is the second most important branch of agriculture in India, far behind crop production. Large cattle used in peasant farms mainly as a draft force. Milk, skins and animal skins are used.
Fishing is of considerable importance in coastal areas. The use of seafood can improve the food situation in the country.

Holidays (where without them!)
North India.
There is a holiday here almost every day. However, at least take note of the following:
January: January 26, Republic Day (Delhi).
February-March: Flower and Spring Festival - Holi.
July-August: Colorful Tidge holiday. (Jaipur). August 15, Independence Day, (Delhi).
September-October: Spectacular holidays of Diwali and Dasheher.
November: Pushkar Desert Fair. (Pushkar).
Western India.
February-March: Unique Mardi Gras (Goa).
March: Dance Festival. (Khajuraho).
July-August: Festival of the thousand-headed snake Nagpanchami and also the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
August-September: Spectacular holidays dedicated to the gods Krishna and Ganesha.
(Bombay). December: Christmas in Goa.
South India.
There are more of them here than in any other part of India. Therefore, you will not be able to get to one of them, even if you are not lucky enough to take part in the largest holidays listed below:
January: Pongal Festival, a three-day Tamil harvest festival. Water festival in Madurai. The great elephant trek.
February: Great Jain festival celebrated every 12-14 years. (Shravanbelagola).
April-May: Puram elephant parade. (Trichur).
August-September: Onam Festival; serpentine boat racing in Kerala and Diwali national holiday, Hindu new Year.
October: Dasheher's ten-day carnival holiday. (Mysore).
East India.
February-March: Shivaratri - dedicated to the god Shiva.
June-July: Spectacular Chariot Festival, India's largest religious festival. (Puri).
October: Sadarang Music Festival (Calcutta).
November-December: Konar Dance Festival. (Konarak).

When compiling a description of the country, materials from the sites were used:
http://www.krugosvet.ru/aMenu/1.htm
http://www.gold-pelican.spb.ru/countrys.php
http://tours.belti.ru/all_maps.php
http://www.oval.ru/encycl.shtml

Inland waters

The central and western parts of India receive water from the Ganges, sacred to all Hindus and its tributaries called the Ganges Valley. The Assam region receives water from the Brahmaputra, which originates in the northern Himalayas and flows into Bangladesh. The Indus originates in Tibet and flows westward through Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

Due to the abundance of water and fertile land, the region of the northern river valleys is the most populated region of the country and it was there that Indian civilization was born. To the south of this region lies the vast Triangular Deccan Plateau, which covers almost the entire Indian Peninsula. The height of the plateau is from 300 to 900 m, however, sometimes there are chains up to 1200 m high. In many places it is crossed by rivers. To the east and west the plateau is framed mountain ranges: Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The western Ghats rise to a height of 900 m. Between them and the Arabian Sea lies the narrow plain of the Malabar coast. The eastern Ghats rise to a height of about 460 m. Between them and the Bay of Bengal lies a narrow flat strip of the Koro-mandel coast.

Climate

Due to the large territory and the presence of different climatic zones, the climate of India is diverse, in the north it is tropical monsoon, in the rest of the territory it is predominantly tropical, in the south of the peninsula it is subequatorial. The rainy season from June to October is most pronounced in Bombay. A cool dry season lasts from late October to early March; this best time to visit the Indian subcontinent. At this time, in most areas, clear, sunny days. In March, the hot season begins, reaching a peak in May, when the thermometer rises to 49 ° C. The southwest monsoon season begins on the west coast at the end of May and is accompanied by precipitation (60-6000 mm). Particularly heavy rains occur in the north-east of India; here is the rainiest place on Earth (about 12,000 mm of precipitation per year). Tourist resources due to their geographic location and climatic features have seasonal appeal.

In Calcutta, January temperatures range from 13 ° C to 27 ° C, July temperatures range from 26 ° C to 32 ° C. In Bombay - from 19 ° C to 28 ° C in January, from 25 ° C to 29 ° C in July.

Flora and fauna

In arid regions bordering Pakistan, vegetation is rather poor. Bamboo and palm trees grow in some areas. In the Ganges Valley, which receives a fairly large amount of rainfall, the flora is more abundant, especially the many different types of vegetation in the southern part of the region, where mangroves and hardwood trees predominate. The lower slopes of the Himalayas are covered with rather dense coniferous forests in the northwest and subtropical forests in the east of the region. Magnolias, rhododendron and oak are especially abundant. The coastal region of southwest India and the slopes of the Western Ghats are overgrown with dense tropical forests: bamboo, teak, and other evergreen trees. On the Deccan plateau, the vegetation is less dense, however, there are forests with palm trees, bamboo and deciduous trees... Fauna in India is represented quite widely. Among the representatives of the cat family, the tiger, panther, leopard, snow Leopard, cheetah, clouded leopard. Other large mammals include the Indian elephant, rhinoceros, black bear, wolf, jackal, buffalo, antelope, several species of monkeys, and deer. There are many mountain goats (ibex, serau) in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions. In India, there are especially many venomous snakes, including cobra, scale legs and others. There are also pythons and crocodiles among reptiles. Among the large number of birds, the peacock, heron, parrots, kingfisher stand out.

India is an exotic country, unusual for a European, and at the same time very rich. There is a special culture here, a huge number of architectural monuments of past eras attract crowds of tourists here. What is India rich in?

Features of the relief

Most of exotic country is located on the plateaus and plains: the Indo-Gangetic plain, the Deccan plateau (plateau). There are also high mountains in the relief of India: the Himalayas, Karakorum. There is also the barren Thar Desert.

The highest mountains on the planet, the Himalayas, are part of the relief of India, while Mount Kanchenjunga is the highest point in the country.

Climate

The climatic conditions of the ancient state are quite contradictory and diverse:

  • In the north, the climate is tropical monsoon.
  • In the south, it is subequatorial.

In the mountainous regions of the country, there is a very noticeable temperature difference between the seasons: in winter it is quite cold here, down to -20 ° С, and hot in summer, +40 ° С. In the southern regions, no such leaps are observed.

The features of the Indian climate are as follows:

  • The rainy season is especially pronounced in Bombay.
  • Season of the southwest monsoons.

At the same time, the conditions in the country are considered favorable for farming, in most of the territory the climate is warm, sunny days there are a lot of crops per year, so you can get 2 and sometimes 3 crops per year.

Mineral wealth

We will begin our consideration of India's natural resources by studying the mineral deposits on its territory. The country is rightfully considered rich by them:

  • Statistics show that the state has the largest reserves on the planet iron ore (about 25% of the world's reserves are concentrated in India). Moreover, the ore is of very high quality.
  • The country ranks third in terms of manganese ore production.
  • The Indian mica belt is also known, stretching from the eastern part of the country along the Bihar plateau to the west. There are also several smaller mica deposits. All this allowed the country to become one of the leaders in the world export of mica.
  • The country is known as one of the record holders in titanium mining and chromium export.
  • There are also many bauxite deposits here, the main ones being in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh.

Iron ore is mined in India in many areas of the country, but the richest deposits are considered to be in a number of states:

  • Orissa.
  • Bihar.
  • Madhya Pradesh.

In addition, thorium, zirconium and graphite are mined in India. All this allows us to conclude that the country is incredibly rich in mineral resources.

Bituminous coal and oil

India's natural resources include coal reserves, which are very large here. The main centers of its extraction are West Bengal and Bihar. Also, coal mining in India is carried out in Tamil Nadu and Assam. The country ranks third in the world in coal production, and in terms of its reserves - the fifth, approximately 9% of the world's wealth is concentrated on its territory.

The coal mining industry is developing at a very rapid pace, since it is coal that is the main source of energy. It is used for the internal needs of the state and is almost never imported.

In the eastern part of the state there is an oil-bearing basin - in the valley of the Brahmaputra River. Also significant oil reserves were discovered in the western part of the country.

Coal industry problems

Despite significant reserves and active mining, the Indian coal industry is experiencing a number of serious difficulties:

  • Most of the reserves lie at a considerable depth (over 300 meters), which makes it difficult to extract.
  • When mined, coal is mixed with waste rock, which is why it loses quality.
  • Open pit mining leads to pollution environment and damages already poor soils.

Statistics show that labor productivity is very low. So, if in the United States there are about 12 thousand tons per worker per year, then in India the figure is no more than 2.6 thousand tons.

Minerals of the South of India

There are not so many natural mineral resources in South India, but they are surprisingly diverse:

  • Diamonds.
  • Bauxites.
  • Graphite.
  • Gold.

Weakly radioactive monazite sands are also of interest.

Diamonds

Diamonds should also be included among the natural resources of India. Previously, this country was the only one where their production was carried out, but now the state has lost its advantage. For a long time, diamonds were mined in the northern part of the state, in the state of Madhya Padezh, as well as Andhra Pradesh.

The most famous of these stones were discovered on the territory of India, for example, the Mountain of Light diamond (191 carats) was the pride of Indian rajas. But in the middle of the 19th century, the prince, captured by the British, was forced to part with his treasure, now he flaunts the royal crown of Great Britain.

Water wealth

Consideration of India's natural resources will continue with the study of its water resources. There are many rivers on its territory, there are large, rich tributaries:

  • Ganges.
  • Brahmaputra.

Abundant rivers originate in the Himalayan mountains and are fed by rainwater, melting snow and glaciers. Water resources are very important for the country, as they help to irrigate the land and successfully engage in agriculture, and also have an undeniable energy potential. But at the same time, there are frequent floods, especially during the rainy season, when rivers overflowing their banks destroy not only crops, but entire settlements.

There are no large lakes on the territory of the state. In the valleys large rivers there are oxbows, there are also lakes of glacial origin in the Himalayas.

Land wealth

India is also rich in land resources. There are 4 main types of soils:

  • Black cotton.
  • Alluvial.
  • Lateritic.
  • Red-colored.

But not all soils are fertile, so many regions of the country are characterized by erosion, salinization, the cause of which is their constant use in agriculture without mineral fertilizers. However, these factors do not prevent the Indians from collecting 2-3 crops per year.

The Ganges Plain is one of the most fertile regions of the country, where groundwater is located close to the surface, which makes irrigation possible throughout the year. It is here that most of the rice and wheat in the state are grown.

Land resources are used very actively, at least 2/5 of their parts are sown, which is why India can be called an agricultural country with full confidence. What kind of crops are grown here?

  • Indian tea, widely known and loved all over the world.
  • Bananas.
  • Wheat.
  • Tobacco.
  • Cotton.

The country is also famous for the fact that spices (black pepper, cloves) are actively grown on its territory. There are very few natural pastures here, no more than 5%.

Forests

India's next natural resource is its forests. Despite the fact that more than 20% of the country is covered with forests, there is not enough wood, so it has to be imported.

Forests have been cut down uncontrollably for a long time, especially on the territory of the Himalayas, so now they are mostly preserved in the hilly and mountainous regions of the central part of the country. Thanks to forest resources, it is possible to obtain substances useful for industry:

  • Rosin.
  • Resin.
  • Wood.
  • Firewood.

What trees grow in this country?

  • In the forests of the subtropics you can find sandal trees, bamboo, coconut palms.
  • Savannahs are decorated with palms and acacias.

The country's forests are shrinking at a rapid rate every year.

Animal world

Among natural resources The representatives of the fauna inhabiting this country can rightfully be attributed to India. There are tigers, noble Himalayan bears, elephants, antelopes, panthers. There are many monkeys, snakes, a huge number of species of birds and fish.

With its reserves of iron ore and other minerals, India is one of the richest countries. However, the developing economy and industry have caused severe damage to the country's ecology.