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 widely spoken. India has no equal in the number of languages. According to the latest census, there are 1,652 languages registered in India, 15 of which are listed in a special schedule to the Constitution. The modern literary language is Hindi, the official language of the seven northern states, and is also the state language of the Indian Union.
National currency: Indian rupee, 100INR=2.3042USD.
Religion: 80% of the population are Hindus, Muslims constitute a significant religious minority - 12%. The number of Christians reaches only 18 million. They are mainly Catholics and Protestants. There are also Orthodox parishes. Of the faiths born on Indian soil, Sikhism stands out, the number of followers of which exceeds 17 million. A small (about 200 thousand) but influential community of Parsi fire-worshippers is concentrated in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). In the coastal cities of Kerala you can meet followers of Judaism (about 6 thousand). About 26 thousand representatives of aboriginal tribes profess various pagan beliefs.
Geographical position
India is located on the Hindustan Peninsula between the headwaters of the Indus river system in Punjab in the West and the Ganges river system in the East.
The southeastern part of Hindustan forms a vast plain - Tamil Nadu.
The Hindustan Peninsula 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 North-South direction), and because over its geological history - in the distant past, Hindustan, as a result of continental drift) separated from Africa and “drifted” to Asia.
Relief
In the south lies 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 become very shallow in winter and drought-resistant vegetation such as savannas and forests with falling leaves.
The Deccan is an arid, hilly plateau bounded on the west and east by the Western (higher) and Eastern Ghats. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers flow through the Deccan plateau in the direction from West to East. Interestingly, according to modern ideas, the Deccan Plateau was formed tens of millions of years ago as a result of the “swelling” of the earth’s surface from an asteroid impact from the opposite side of the globe in the Gulf of Mexico (it was this catastrophe that was probably the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs).
In the north is the world's highest system of the Himalayan ("Abode of Snow") mountains (the highest point of Chomolungma - 8848 m above sea level) with snowy peaks and glaciers; in the east is the fertile Ganges valley.
In addition to the Himalayas, six more large mountain ranges rise in 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 Siwalik Mountains in the south (altitudes 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. highest point - 4578 m.
The Aravali Mountains stretch for 725 km from Delido. 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 over a distance of 1050 km, heights up to 700-800 m.
The chain of the Satpur Mountains stretches for 900 km from the Western Lowland to the interfluve of the Tapti and Narmada. The highest point is Dhupgarh - 1350 m.
The Western Ghats (Sadkhryadri) stretch for 1600 km along the western coast of India for 1600 km - from the mouth of the river. Tapti to Cape Camorin. The highest point is Dodabetta (2633 m).
The Eastern Ghats stretch along the eastern coast of India. Highest point - 1680 m.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain occupies the central and eastern part of India, its area is 319 thousand sq. km. 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
India's mineral resources are varied and their reserves are significant. The main deposits are located in the northeast 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 Singhbhum on the Chhota Nagpur plateau). Iron ores are of high quality. General geological reserves amount to over 19 billion tons. India also has significant reserves of manganese ores. Somewhat north of the iron ore fields are the main coal basins (in the states of Bihar and West Bengal), but these coals are of low quality. The country's proven coal reserves amount to about 23 billion tons (total coal reserves in India, according to various sources, are estimated at 140 billion tons).
In the northeast of the country, there is a concentration of minerals that is particularly favorable for the development of heavy industry. The state of Bihar is the most mineral-rich region in India.
The mineral resources of South India are varied. 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 are large and navigable over a long distance. Many Deccan rivers dry up during the dry season. Floods are common in North India during the monsoon season.
Climate
The climate of India is very diverse.
The Himalayan region experiences cold winters with occasional frosts and snowfall. On the northern plains there are cool winters and sharp temperature fluctuations depending on the time of day; summers are very hot.
On the Deccan Plateau there is little temperature variation, but in higher elevations the nights are cold in winter.
It is always hot on the plains of Tamil, but the temperature does not rise as high as in the northern regions of the country.
The most important feature of the Indian climate is the rainy season (monsoon period). It lasts from June for about 2 months. The rest of the year, the climate is arid (except on the west coast).
Animal and plant life
The Hindustan Peninsula is an entire continent, the climatic and geographical uniqueness of which contributes to the prosperity of the animal and plant world.
There are about 45 thousand plant species in India, of which 15 thousand are found only in India. Forests in India cover an area of 639 thousand sq. km, which is 19.45% of the total territory of the country.
In India there are approximately 82 thousand different species of 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 identity. The Hangul's habitat is limited to the Kashmir Valley in Northern India, rhinoceroses are found in isolated floodplains along the Brahmaputra River in the east, black langurs are found in the Western Ghats, and Western India is home to the last remaining Asiatic lions.
The two most impressive species, the Bengal tiger and the Indian elephant, are still found throughout the area, although their populations have recently declined greatly.
The Bengal tiger reaches a length of 3 meters and a weight of up to 290 kg. Even in the recent past, tigers were mercilessly exterminated, and by 1973, when a special program was launched to restore the population of Bengal tigers, there were only 1,827 individuals. By 1986, the Bengal tiger population had increased to 4,230 individuals.
The Indian elephant is somewhat smaller in size 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 been a pet. In the Ancient World, Indian elephants were often used in the military.
The Asiatic (Gir) lion is preserved only in the Gir forest on the Kathiwar Peninsula in Western India. Its number reaches 210-220 individuals.
Gaur or Indian bison is the largest ungulate animal in India. The male reaches 95 cm in height and weighs more than 900 kg.
The Great Indian Rhinoceros reaches 180 cm in height and 335 cm in length. The length of the horn reaches 61 cm. Indian rhinoceroses are found mainly in the Kaziranga National Park.
The only representative of the great apes, the Khuloka 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 to an elephant.
The Indian cobra (another type of poisonous snake) reaches a length of 180 cm.
The Gangetic gharial lives in the Ganges Valley. The length of this crocodile reaches 6.6 m. The population of this crocodile is quite small.
In order to preserve rare and scarce species of flora and fauna, 83 national parks, 447 nature reserves, 23 tiger reserves, 200 zoos and 8 biosphere reserves have been created in India.
Reserves and national parks
Dachigam National Park (Kashmir)
Wide valley: mountain slopes. It is home to a rare species of 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 Dal and Nagin lakes.
Govind Sagar Bird Sanctuary (Himachal Pradesh)
The bird sanctuary is inhabited by cranes, ducks, geese, and 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 marsh forests and plains. Fauna: tigers, elephants, leopards and various birds. Excellent fishing in the Ramganga River. Airport: Pantnagar, 115 km. Railway Station: Ramnagar, 51 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Dadwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh)
Nepal border. Tigers, sloth bears and panthers live here. 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”, elevated to a height of 3500 m, dazzles with lush 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: on the territory of the park.
Ranthambhore (Sawai Madhopur - Rajasthan)
Hilly forests, plains and lakes. Sambar, chinkara (Indian gazelle), tiger, sloth bear, crocodiles and migratory waterfowl. Airport: Jaipur, 162 km. Railway Station: Sawai Madhopur, 11 km. Season: November - May. Accommodation: in the park and in Sawai Madhopur.
Bandhavgari National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Located in the Vindhya 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 waterfowl here, 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 Connectivity: 176 km from Jaipur, 177 km from Delhi. Season: September - February. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
Salt marsh forests and savanna. The only place where the barashingha (swamp deer) lives; In addition, there are tiger, chetal, gaur (Indian bison), and 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, chowsingha (four-horned antelope), nilgai, tiger, leopard, waterfowl. 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 travel around the park on elephants. Airports: Jorhat, 96 km, and Guwahati, 217 km. Railway station: Furkating, 78 km. Season: February - May. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam)
On the border with Bhutan. The tropical forest, savannah and river banks are inhabited by rhinoceros, water bull, tiger, elephant, golden langur, and waterfowl. Fishing is allowed. Airport: Guwahati, 176 km. Railway station: Sarupeta, 40 km. Season: January - March. Accommodation: on the territory of the reserve.
Palamau Tiger Reserve (Bihar)
Rocky and wooded hills. Tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, wild tropical cat, rhesus macaque, rarely - wolf. Airport: Ranchi, 155 km. Railway station: Daltonganj, 19 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: in Belt.
Hazaribagh National Park (Bihar)
Salt marshes and wooded hills. Sambar, nilgai, chetal, tiger, leopard, rarely - muntjak (large barking deer). Airport: Ranchi, 100 km. Railway Station: Hazaribagh, 67 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (West Bengal)
Mangrove forests. Tiger, river cat, deer, crocodile, dolphin, various birds. Transport: external and internal transportation by boat. Airport: Kolkata, 48 km. Season: February - March. Accommodation: There are no hotels or overnight accommodations on the territory or near the reserve.
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary (West Bengal)
Tropical forest and savanna. Rhinoceros, elephant, various birds. Airport: Bagdogra, 155 km. Railway station: Madari Khat, 11 km. Season: March - May. Accommodation: Rest house in Jaldapara.
Similipal Tiger Reserve (Orissa)
Extensive salt marsh forest. Tiger, elephant, leopard, sambar, chetal, muntjac deer and fawn. Airport: Bhubaneswar, 310 km. Railway Station: Baripada, 50 km. Season: November - June. Accommodation: tourist holiday homes in the surrounding area.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala)
Large artificial lake. Elephant, gaur, wild dog, black langur, beavers, turtles; numerous species of birds, including the hornbill and water owl. View from the water. Airports: Madurai, 160 km, Cochin, 208 km, and Thiruvananthapuram, 258 km. Railway Station: Madurai, Kottayam, 110 km and Bodinayakanur, 67 km. Accommodation: a good selection of 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 Calimere Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
Primarily known for its flamingos. There are herons, teals, curlews, plovers and blackbucks and wild boars. Airport: Tiruchirappalli, 200 km. Railway station: Point Calimere, 0.5 km. Season: November - January. Accommodation: forest rest house.
Pulicat Bird Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh)
Flamingo, gray pelican, heron, tern. Airport and railway station: Chennai (Madras), 60 km. Accommodation: Overnight in Nellore.
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: Rest houses in Kulljee Forest and Mandurli and River View Bungalows in Dandeli.
Jawhar National Park includes Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks (Karnataka) and Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala) wildlife sanctuaries.
Dense mixed forest. Largest elephant population in India; leopard, gaur, sambar, muntjac deer and giant squirrel. Birds include Indian cuckoo, barbet and trogon.
Bandipur (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore, 190 km. Railway Station: Mysore, 65 km. Available to tourists from Coimbatore and Udagamandalam. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu)
Airport: Coimbatore, 16 km. Railway station: Udagamandalam, 68 km.
Nagarhole (Karnataka)
Airport: Bangalore. Railway station: Mysur. 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, Vihar, Tulsi and Powari lakes. Waterfowl and small mammals. An open-air cinema next to the 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: on the territory of the park.
Sasangir National Park (Gujarat)
Wooded plains and lake. The only habitat of the Asiatic lion; other fauna: sambar, chowsingha, nilgai, leopard, chinkara and wild boar. Airport: Rajkot, 153 km. Railway station: Sasangir, 0.5 km. Season: January - May. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary (Gujarat)
Lake. Migratory waterfowl. Local bird species include flamingos. Airport: Ahmedabad, 64 km. Railway Station: Viramgam, 40 km. Season: November - February. Accommodation: there are conditions for accommodation near the lake.
Reserve "Little Kutch Rain" (Gujarat)
Desert. Herds of kura (Indian wild ass), 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 possible from Bhuj.
Velvadar National Park (Gujarat)
Savannah of the New Delta. Large concentration of blackbucks. Airport and Railway Station: Bhavnagar, 65 km. Season: October - June. Accommodation: on the territory of the park.
Industry and manufacturing
The chemical industry focuses on the production of mineral fertilizers. The importance of petrochemicals is growing. Resins, plastics, chemical fibers, and synthetic rubber are produced. Pharmaceuticals are developed. The chemical industry is represented in many cities of the country.
Light industry is a traditional sector of the Indian economy. The cotton and jute industries stand out in particular. India is one of the leading countries in the world in the production of cotton fabrics, and in the production of jute products (technical, packaging, furniture fabrics, carpets) it ranks first. 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. Textile and apparel products account for 25% of India's exports.
The food industry produces goods for both domestic consumption and export. Indian tea is the most widely known in the world. Its production is concentrated in Kolkata and the south of the country. India ranks first in the world in tea exports.
Agriculture. The leading branch of Indian agriculture is crop production (4/5 of the cost of all products). The sown area is 140 million hectares, but there is practically no land for new development. Agriculture requires irrigation (40% of the cultivated area is irrigated). Forests are being cleared (slash-and-burn agriculture still exists).
The main part of the sown area is occupied by food crops: rice, wheat, corn, etc. The main industrial crops of India are cotton, jute, tea, sugar cane, tobacco, oilseeds (rapeseed, peanuts, etc.). Coconut palms, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, citrus fruits, herbs and spices are also grown. The agricultural year almost everywhere in India is divided into two seasons - kharif (summer) and rabi (winter). Large land fund.
Animal husbandry is the second most important agricultural sector in India, far behind crop production. Cattle are used on peasant farms mainly as draft power. Milk, animal hide and skin are used.
In coastal areas, fishing is of considerable importance. The use of seafood can improve the food situation in the country.
Holidays(Where would we be without them!)
Northern India.
There is some kind of holiday here almost every day. However, at least take note of the following:
January: January 26, Republic Day (Delhi).
February-March: Festival of flowers and spring - Holi.
July-August: Colorful Teej festival. (Jaipur). August 15, Independence Day, (Delhi).
September-October: Spectacular festivals of Diwali and Dashekher.
November: Pushkar Desert Fair. (Pushkar).
Western India.
February-March: Unique Mardi Gras (Goa).
March: Dance festival. (Khajuraho).
July-August: The festival of the thousand-headed snake Nagpanchami and also the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
August-September: Spectacular festivals 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 definitely 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 March.
February: Great Jaini festival, celebrated every 12-14 years. (Shravanbelagola).
April-May: Puram Elephant Parade. (Trichur).
August-September: Onam holiday; snake boat races in Kerala and the national holiday of Diwali, the Hindu new year.
October: Ten-day carnival of Dasheher. (Mysore).
Eastern India.
February-March: Shivaratri – dedicated to the god Shiva.
June-July: Spectacular Chariot Festival, the largest religious festival in India. (Puri).
October: “Sadarang” – music festival (Kolkata).
November-December: Konar Dance Festival. (Konarak).
When compiling a description of the country, materials from the following 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
India is a huge country in southern Asia, located on the Hindustan Peninsula between the headwaters of the Indus river system in Punjab in the West and the Ganges river system in the East. It borders Pakistan to the northwest, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. From the south, India is washed by the Indian Ocean, and off the northern coast of India is the island of Sri Lanka.
The relief of India is very diverse - from the plains in the South of India, to glaciers in the North, in the Himalayas, and from the desert regions of the West to tropical forests in the East. The length of India from north to south is about 3220 km, and from east to west – 2930 km. India's land border is 15,200 km and its sea border is 6,083 km. The altitude varies from 0 to 8598 meters. The highest point is Mount Kapchspyupga. India covers an area of 3287263 sq. km, although this figure is not entirely accurate, because some parts of the border are disputed by China and Pakistan. India is the seventh largest country in the world by area.
There are seven natural regions in India: the Northern Mountain Range (consisting of the Himalayas and the Karakoram), 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.
There are seven major mountain ranges in India: the Himalayas, Patkai (Eastern Highlands), Aravali, Vindhya, Satpura, 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 Siwalik Mountains in the south (altitudes 800-1200 m), then the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m) and the Greater Himalayas (5500-6000 m). In the Himalayas are the sources of three of the largest rivers in India: the Ganges (2510 km), Indus (2879 km) and Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennaru, Kaveri). Several rivers flow into the Gulf of Cambay (Tapti, Narbad, Mahi and Sabarmati). Apart from the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra, all other rivers in India are not navigable. During the summer monsoon season, accompanied by the melting of snow in the Himalayas, flooding has become a common occurrence in North India. Once every five to ten years, almost the entire Jamno-Gangetic plain is under water. Then from Delhi to Patna (the capital of Bihar), i.e. You can travel a distance of more than 1000 km by boat. In India, it is believed that the legend of the global flood was born here.
India Statistics
(as of 2012)
The inland waters of India are represented by numerous rivers, which, depending on the nature of their feeding, are divided into “Himalayan”, full-flowing throughout the year, with mixed snow-glacial and rain feeding, and “Deccan”, predominantly with rain, monsoon feeding, large fluctuations in flow, flood from June to October. All major rivers experience a sharp rise in level in summer, often accompanied by floods. The Indus River, which gave the country its name after the partition of British India, ended up mostly in Pakistan.
There are no significant lakes in India. Most often, oxbow lakes are found in the valleys of large rivers; there are also glacial-tectonic lakes in the Himalayas. The largest lake, Sambhar, located in arid Rajasthan, is used to evaporate salt. India's population is over 1.21 billion people, which is one sixth of the world's population. India is the most populous country on Earth after China. India is a multinational country.
The largest nations: Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannar, Punjabi. About 80% of the population is Hindu. Muslims make up 14% of the population, Christians 2.4%, Sikhs 2%, Buddhists 0.7%. Most Indians are rural residents. Average life expectancy: about 55 years.
Relief of India
On the territory of India, the Himalayas stretch in an arc from the north to the northeast of the country, being a natural border with China in three sections, interrupted by Nepal and Bhutan, between which, in the state of Sikkim, the highest peak of India, Mount Kanchenjunga, is located. The Karakoram is located in the far north of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, mainly in the part of Kashmir held by Pakistan. In the northeastern appendix of India are the mid-altitude Assam-Burma Mountains and the Shillong Plateau.
The main centers of glaciation are concentrated in the Karakoram and on the southern slopes of the Zaskar range in the Himalayas. The glaciers are fed by snowfalls during the summer monsoons and snowstorm transport of snow from the slopes. The average height of the snow line decreases from 5300 m in the west to 4500 m in the east. Due to global warming, glaciers are retreating.
Hydrology of India
The inland waters of India are represented by numerous rivers, which, depending on the nature of their feeding, are divided into “Himalayan”, full-flowing throughout the year, with mixed snow-glacial and rain feeding, and “Deccan”, predominantly with rain, monsoon feeding, large fluctuations in flow, flood from June to October. All major rivers experience a sharp rise in level in summer, often accompanied by floods. The Indus River, which gave the country its name after the partition of British India, ended up mostly in Pakistan.
The largest rivers, originating in the Himalayas and mostly flowing through the territory of India, are the Ganga and the Brahmaputra; both of them flow into the Bay of Bengal. The main tributaries of the Ganga are the Yamuna and the Koshi. Their low banks cause catastrophic floods every year. Other important rivers of Hindustan are the Godavari, Mahanadi, Kaveri and Krishna, which also flow into the Bay of Bengal, and the Narmada and Tapti, which flow into the Arabian Sea - the steep banks of these rivers prevent their waters from overflowing. Many of them are important as sources of irrigation.
There are no significant lakes in India. Most often, oxbow lakes are found in the valleys of large rivers; there are also glacial-tectonic lakes in the Himalayas. The largest lake, Sambhar, located in arid Rajasthan, is used to evaporate salt.
Coast of India
The length of the coastline is 7,517 km, of which 5,423 km belongs to mainland India, and 2,094 km to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Laccadive Islands. The coastline of mainland India has the following character: 43% sandy beaches, 11% rocky and rocky shore, and 46% wattle or marshy shore. The poorly dissected, low, sandy shores have almost no convenient natural harbors, so large ports are located either at the mouths of rivers (Calcutta) or artificially constructed (Chennai). The south of the western coast of Hindustan is called the Malabar Coast, the south of the eastern coast is called the Coromandel Coast.
The most remarkable coastal regions of India are the Great Rann of Kutch in Western India and the Sundarbans - the marshy lower reaches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra delta in India and Bangladesh. Two archipelagos are part of India: the coral atolls of Lakshadweep to the west of the Malabar coast; and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the Andaman Sea.
Natural Resources and Minerals of India
India's mineral resources are varied and their reserves are significant. The main deposits are located in the northeast 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 Singhbhum on the Chhota Nagpur plateau). Iron ores are of high quality. General geological reserves amount to over 19 billion tons. India also has significant reserves of manganese ores.
Somewhat north of the iron ore fields are the main coal basins (in the states of Bihar and West Bengal), but these coals are of low quality. The country's proven coal reserves amount to about 23 billion tons (total coal reserves in India, according to various sources, are estimated at 140 billion tons). In the northeast of the country, there is a concentration of minerals that is particularly favorable for the development of heavy industry. The state of Bihar is the most mineral-rich region in India.
The mineral resources of South India are varied. 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.
Radioactive thorium contained in monocyte sands may become an important source of energy. Uranium ores have been discovered in the state of Rajasthan.
Climate of India
India's climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, causing the monsoons. The Himalayas serve as a barrier to the cold Central Asian winds, thus making the climate in most of Hindustan warmer than at the same latitudes in other regions of the planet. The Thar Desert plays a key role in attracting the humid southwesterly winds of the summer monsoon, which provide rain to much of India between June and October. India is dominated by four main climates: tropical humid, tropical dry, subtropical monsoon and alpine.
Most of India has three seasons: hot and humid with the dominance of the southwest monsoon (June - October); relatively cool and dry with a predominance of northeast trade winds (November - February); very hot and dry transitional (March - May). During the wet season, over 80% of the annual precipitation falls.
The windward slopes of the Western Ghats and Himalayas are the most humid (up to 6000 mm per year), and on the slopes of the Shillong plateau is the rainiest place on Earth - Cherrapunji (about 12000 mm). The driest areas are the western part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (less than 100 mm in the Thar Desert, dry period 9-10 months) and the central part of Hindustan (300-500 mm, dry period 8-9 months). The amount of precipitation varies greatly from year to year. On the plains, the average January temperature increases from north to south from 15 to 27 °C, in May it is 28-35 °C everywhere, sometimes reaching 45-48 °C. During the wet season, temperatures in most parts of the country reach 28 °C. In the mountains at an altitude of 1500 m in January -1 °C, in July 23 °C, at an altitude of 3500 m -8 °C and 18 °C, respectively.
Flora and fauna of India
Due to India's location and varied climatic conditions, everything grows in this country. Or almost everything: from drought-resistant thorny shrubs to tropical rainforest evergreens. There are plants and trees such as palm trees (more than 20 species), ficus trees, giant trees - batangor (up to 40 m high), sal (about 37 m), cotton tree (35 m). The Indian banyan tree amazes with its unusual appearance - a tree with hundreds of aerial roots. According to the Botanical Service, in total there are about 45 thousand different plant species in India, of which more than 5 thousand are found only in India. On the territory of India there are tropical humid evergreen forests, monsoon (deciduous) forests, savannas, woodlands and shrubs, semi-deserts and deserts. In the Himalayas, the vertical zonation of vegetation cover is clearly visible - from tropical and subtropical forests to alpine meadows. As a result of long-term human impact, the natural vegetation cover of India has been greatly altered and, in many areas, almost destroyed. Once covered with dense forests, India is now one of the least forested areas in the world. Forests have been preserved mainly in the Himalayas and in the highest mountain ranges of the peninsula. The coniferous forests of the Himalayas consist of Himalayan cedar, fir, spruce and pine. Since they are located in hard-to-reach areas, their economic importance is limited.
India is home to more than 350 species of mammals. The main fauna here are: elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, a huge number of different species of deer, bison, antelope, bison and striped hyenas, bears, wild pigs, jackals, monkeys and wild Indian dogs. The Barasinga deer lives only in India - there are only about 4 thousand individuals. Common reptiles here include king cobras, pythons, crocodiles, large freshwater turtles and lizards. The world of wild birds in India is also diverse. It has about 1,200 species and 2,100 subspecies of birds: from hornbills and eagles to the symbol of the nation - the peacock.
There are river dolphins in the Ganges delta. The dugong lives in the seas surrounding India - one of the rarest animals in the world, a representative of a small order of sirenids, or sea cows.
As part of the government's special programs for the protection of wild animals, a network of national parks and reserves has been created in the country, the largest and most famous of which are Kanha in Madhya Pradesh, Kaziranga in Assam, Corbett in Uttar Pradesh and Periyar in Kerala. At the moment there are only 350 national parks and reserves.
India is a large state in South Asia. In terms of area, it ranks seventh in the world. Its landscapes include deserts, high mountains and plains, so it is not surprising that the country has a wide variety of natural resources. What minerals is India rich in? How are a country's resources valued? Let's find out.
Geographical location of India
The Republic of India is the second country in the world in terms of population. It is home to 1.35 billion people. At the same time, there are approximately 406 people per square kilometer. The country is located between Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and China. It is bordered by the Bay of Bengal in the southeast, the Arabian Sea in the southwest, and the Laccadian Sea in the south.
The republic occupies an area of 3.28 million km2, covering the Hindustan Peninsula and a number of islands, such as Agatti, Kavaratti, Sagar, Piram, etc. Some of them are uninhabited. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of volcanic origin, while Minicoy, Amandive and Laccadian Islands are coral atolls.
The coastline of India has a length of 7,517 kilometers, of which more than 5 thousand kilometers belong to the continental part. The country's coasts are represented by sandy beaches and marshy areas (watts), which are periodically flooded by the tides. Small areas are represented by rocks and rocky outcrops.
Agroclimatic resources
Thanks to the influence of the Himalayan mountains and the Thar Desert, India is much warmer than other regions of the planet at the same latitudes. The hottest period comes in spring, when the temperature reaches 35-45 °C. Summer and winter are cooler, the temperature stays around 25-28 degrees.
The climatic conditions of the country allow farming almost all year round and harvesting crops two or three times. The only drawback is the lack of precipitation. They come only from June to October, when the rainy season begins. But this is not always beneficial, because along with precipitation, floods begin. From October to May the climate is very dry, so about 40% of all arable land is irrigated by rivers.
In most of the country the land is not very suitable for use. This is all due to erosion and salinity due to overuse of fertilizers. Agriculture is represented mainly by individual land plots up to two hectares in size.
In the dry areas of the Deccan, hardy crops such as millet are grown. Where river irrigation is possible, rice and wheat grow. In all regions of the country there are plantations of bananas, coconut palms, sesame, mustard, peanuts, legumes, pineapples, citrus fruits, mangoes, etc. India occupies a leading place in the world in the cultivation of sugar cane, tea, coffee, spices, tobacco and cotton.
Indian waters
India's natural water resources comprise 12 major rivers and their tributaries. The most significant of them are: Indus, Ganga, Godwari, Brahmaputra, Kaveri, Krishna, Tapti, etc. All these rivers originate in three main areas:
- Mountain ranges of the Himalayas and Karakoram.
- Western Ghats.
- Vidhya and Satpura ranges in the middle part of the country.
The Indus River, which gave its name to the entire state, begins in Tibet and flows mainly in Pakistan. But the Ganges and Brahmaputra flow mainly in India. They are among the longest and deepest in all of South Asia. The length of each river exceeds 2,500 kilometers.
The Himalayan and Karakoram regions are snow-fed. They do not lose their power all year round, which is why they are actively used to irrigate fields. They have great energy potential. The remaining two systems are powered by rainfall. At the end of the period of showers they become very shallow. In the area of the Deccan Plateau they dry out completely. But during the rains, all large drains overflow their banks, flooding lands and nearby settlements.
Minerals
India is one of the fastest developing countries in the world. Over the past decades, it has been confidently expanding into the industrial, agricultural, and software markets. Due to its large territory and terrain features, the country has a variety of resources. Main mineral resources of India:
- Oil.
- Natural gas.
- Mica.
- Diamonds.
- Limestone.
- Coal.
- Bauxite.
- Manganese.
- Iron.
- Chromium.
- Titanium.
About 90 oil and gas fields have been discovered in the country, mainly in the western part. In addition, the country has deposits of phosphates and fluorites, lead, zinc, tin, gypsum, graphite, and uranium. India is also famous for its precious and semi-precious stones such as sapphire, aquamarine, emerald, jet, quartz, jasper and other minerals.
Despite all the mineral resources, the country's exports are not very large compared to imports. Due to the large population, more than half of the resources are used by local residents and do not go to the external market. Thus, coal production in India ranks third in the world, but in terms of its consumption the republic ranks second. In terms of oil production, it is not even in the top ten countries (23rd or 24th place), but in terms of consumption it ranks third in the world.
Mica
The most common minerals in India are micas. In 2010, the country accounted for 60% of this resource. In the state of Andhra Pradesh there is a large mica belt stretching for 100 kilometers. It is the main source of minerals.
In India, mica is mainly represented by muscovite or fuchsite. Here it is processed into sheets or powder. Later they are used for insulators, condensates, fire-resistant paints, adhesives and building materials. Mica is also used in design, electrical and radio engineering, and in the aviation industry. India produces about 2-4 tons of the mineral per year.
Gold
Another significant mineral resource of India is gold. But here the country leads more in metal consumption than in its production. Gold in India is closely connected with national traditions. Not a single wedding is complete without it. It is sewn into the sari, worn in the form of bracelets, rings and pendants. Guests are sure to give the couple items made of precious metal or give money to buy it.
In terms of the amount of gold stored in Indian homes, the republic can safely be called the richest. Every year, India consumes about 800 tons of metal, which is almost three times more than China produces, and yet it is the leader in this matter. The USA, Australia, Russia, South Africa and Peru also produce large quantities, but India is not on the list of leaders.
Forests
This type of natural resource is considered scarce in India, although the forest zone covers more than 20% of the country's territory. The fact is that not all of them are suitable for industrial use, and those that are best suited grow in the Himalayas and are prohibited from logging.
Nevertheless, there are many valuable species growing in the country that are exported. Thus, in India there is sandalwood, teak, myrobalan, bassia, sissu, and bamboo. They are used in construction, for the production of shellac wax, plywood, furniture and various medical preparations. In industry, not only the wood of these species is used, but also essential oils and fruits. They are suitable for perfumery, cosmetology, medicine making and much more.
Valuable species grow mainly in the subtropical climate zone. However, wood is also mined in the Indian Thar Desert. Local acacias are a source of tannins and dyes. They cover sailboats, fabrics, and with the help of acacia, catechu is used to dye the robes of monks orange.
Animal world
The fauna of India is one of the most diverse on the planet. Moreover, about 20% of all local animals are endemic, that is, they are found only here. The Himalayas served as a natural barrier for them, preventing them from penetrating further into the continent.
In India, the hooded langur, or langur, lives exclusively in the Nilgiri Mountains. Only in the Western Ghats are lion-tailed macaques, Eliot's lizard and spiny dormouse found. The Andaman Islands have the hornbill, as well as their own species of shrew and barn owl. Endemic to the Nicobar Islands are ring-necked parrots.
Typical inhabitants of India are rhinoceroses, elephants, lions, Bengal tigers, hyenas, bison, antelopes, Temminki cats, Himalayan bears, slow lorises, gibbons, manulas, Tibetan lynxes, cat bears - binturongs. Many poisonous snakes live here, including king cobras. Crocodiles, turtles, and more than 1000 species of birds live here. To preserve the unique and diverse nature of the country, there are 500 national parks and reserves.
The richness of Indian nature lies in its diversity. 3/4 of the country's territory is occupied by plains and plateaus. India resembles a huge triangle with its apex pointing at. Along the base of the Indian triangle stretch the Karakorum, Gindukusha and.
South of the Himalayas lies the vast, fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain. To the west of the Indo-Gangetic Plain stretches the barren Thar Desert.
Further south is the Deccan Plateau, which occupies most of the central and southern parts. The plateau is bordered on both sides by the mountains of the Eastern and Western Ghats; their foothills are occupied by tropical forests.
The climate of India over most of its territory is subequatorial, monsoon. In the north and northwest it is tropical, with precipitation of about 100 mm/year. On the windward slopes of the Himalayas, 5000-6000 mm of precipitation falls per year, and in the center of the peninsula - 300-500 mm. In summer, up to 80% of all precipitation falls.
The largest rivers of India - the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra - originate in the mountains and are fed by snow, glaciers and rain. The rivers of the Deccan Plateau are fed by rain. During the winter monsoon, the rivers of the plateau dry up.
In the north of the country, brown-red and red-brown savannah soils predominate, in the center - black and gray tropical and red earth laterint soils. In the south there are yellow earth and red earth soils, which developed on lava covers. Coastal lowlands and river valleys are covered with rich alluvial soils.
The natural vegetation of India has been greatly modified by man. Monsoon forests have survived only 10-15% of the original area. Every year, the forest area in India is reduced by 1.5 million hectares. Acacias and palm trees grow there. In subtropical forests - sandalwood, teak, bamboo, coconut palms. In the mountains it is clearly expressed
India has a rich and diverse fauna: deer, antelope, elephants, tigers, Himalayan bears, rhinoceroses, panthers, monkeys, wild boars, many snakes, birds, fish.
India's recreational resources are of global importance: coastal, historical, cultural, architectural, etc.
India has significant reserves. Manganese deposits are concentrated in central and eastern India. The subsoil of India is rich in chromites, uranium, thorium, copper, bauxite, gold, magnesite, mica, diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones.
Coal reserves in the country amount to 120 billion tons (Bihar and West Bengal). India's oil and gas are concentrated in the Asamu Valley and the Gujarat plains, as well as offshore in the Bombay region.
Unfavorable natural phenomena in India are droughts, earthquakes, floods (8 million hectares), fires, loss of snow in the mountains, soils (the country loses 6 billion tons), desertification in western India, and deforestation.
Mineral resources are one of the main components of the economic development of the state. With a variety of mineral resources, the country will not depend on external partners. At the same time, the emphasis will be on the development of areas in which the territory is rich. How it's done in India.
Features of the tectonic structure
India is divided into three parts. The main territories of the country are located on the surface of the Hindustan Plate. This part of the state is the most stable. In the northeast of modern India, the highest mountain range on the planet begins - the Himalayas, which was formed as a result of the collision of two plates - the Hindustan and Eurasian, with their subsequent unification into one continent. The same collision contributed to the formation of a depression in the earth's crust, which was later filled with alluvium and gave rise to the third part - the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The relief features of India and mineral resources are closely interconnected. The modern incarnation of the ancient plate is the Deccan Plateau, which occupies almost the entire central and southern part of the country. It is rich in deposits of various ore minerals, diamonds and other precious stones, as well as deposits containing coals and hydrocarbons.
Brief description of reserves
One can highlight some peculiarities of the state of India. Mineral resources containing ore: iron, copper, manganese, tungsten, as well as bauxite, chromite and gold, are located in the east and northeast of the country. In places of contact with mountain ranges. Here, as well as on the more eastern plateau of Chhota Nagpur, the largest coal basins are concentrated. The raw materials of these deposits are not of high quality - they are mainly thermal coals and they are used as much as possible in the energy sector. Southern India is rich in deposits of bauxite, gold, and chromite. Iron ore deposits are located in the central part of the country. Unlike coal mining, which is aimed mainly at the domestic market, mining of ore minerals is export-oriented. The coastal strip of the Indian coast has reserves of monazite sand, which contains thorium and And the question of what minerals India is rich in can be answered - all. And the presence of large deposits of precious metals - gold and silver - allowed India, literally, to become the main source of jewelry in the world.
Ore minerals
The western lowlands of the country and the mountainous northern lands of the state of India are practically devoid of ore mineral resources. The topography and minerals in this country are interconnected. Therefore, almost all ore deposits are associated with the Deccan Plateau. Its northeast is rich in huge deposits of various resources - iron, chromium, and manganese are mined here. Iron ore reserves are estimated at twelve billion tons. And ore is mined on such a scale that the local metallurgy does not have time to process it.
Therefore, most of the mined ore is exported. Indian and chromites are famous for their high content of useful substances. And the countries are rich in zinc, lead and copper. Separately, special fossils should be highlighted - monazite sands. They are found on many of the world's coasts, but India has the largest concentration of them. Minerals of this type have a large component of radioactive ores - thorium and uranium. The country took advantage of the presence of this component on its territory, which allowed it to become a nuclear power. In addition to radioactive substances, monazite sands contain sufficient amounts of titanium and zirconium.
Non-metallic minerals
The main mineral of this type is coal, which accounts for ninety-seven percent of Indian coal reserves. Most of the deposits are located in the east and northeast of the Deccan plateau and the Chhota Nagpur plateau. Proven coal reserves are the seventh largest in the world. But the extraction of this mineral accounts for seven percent of the global value - the highest figure among other countries.
Coal is used mainly as fuel for thermal power plants. Only a small amount is used in metallurgy. Production in the country is insignificant. This fossil is used only as fuel. The northeastern lands are also rich in oil reserves. Until the middle of the last century, these were the only oil deposits that India knew. Since that period, minerals of this type began to be explored throughout the country and large deposits were found in the west of the country and on the shelves of the Arabian Sea. The country produces more than forty million tons of oil annually, but this is not enough for the rapidly developing Indian industry, so the country has to import a significant part of the oil.
Jewelry Leader
What else is India famous for? Mineral resources that are of significant importance in the life of the country are listed above. Almost all - only precious metals and precious stones were not mentioned.
For several millennia, all the world's diamonds were mined in India near Golconda, in the eastern part of the Deccan Plateau. By the eighteenth century, it turned out that these deposits were practically empty. At the same time, large deposits were discovered in Africa, Canada, Siberia, and Indian diamonds began to be forgotten. Relatively small diamond mining by world standards and the presence of platinum and gold components in the ore deposits of the east and northeast of the country have made India a world leader in jewelry.
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