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Maharashtra is the third largest state of the Indian Union. It is also the second largest state by population, next to Uttar Pradesh. The geography of Maharashtra is spread across 3,08,000 square km. It shares its borders with Madhya Pradesh to the north, Karnataka to the south, Chhattisgarh to the east, Goa to the southwest and Andhra Pradesh to the southeast. Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli are located to its northwest. The western coast of Maharashtra is rinsed by the Arabian Sea.
India's most populous city, Mumbai, is the capital of the state of Maharashtra. It is a cosmopolitan city and considered as the entertainment and financial capital of the country. The most interesting part of the geography of Maharashtra is the presence of the Western Ghats and the Deccan Plateau. This Deccan Plateau was originated from the cooling down of the lava during the periods of volcanic activities.
Geographical features of Maharashtra
The most dominating feature of geography of Maharashtra is the Western Ghats. They run parallel to the Konkan coast. To the east of the Western Ghats lies the Deccan Plateau. Western Ghats are also called the Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra,in the Malabar region of Kerala, and in Karnataka. Its average elevation is 1200m. It blocks the monsoon winds and causes the rainfall in the eastern part of Maharashtra. The altitudes of the ranges are higher in Mahabaleshwar. Godavari and Krishna, the two major rivers of Maharashtra, originate from the Western Ghats.
Deccan Plateau is bordered by the Eastern Ghats in the east and the Western Ghats in the west. It occupies most of the peninsular portion of India. The major cities in Maharashtra that come under the Deccan region are Solpaur, Pune and Nagpur. The rocks observed in this region are granite and basalt.
The main mountainous regions and hills in Maharashtra are Satpura range and Varandha, Sawantwadi and Tamhini Ghats. The Satpura ranges originated in Gujarat and pass through Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The Satpura and the Gaikhuri-Bhamragad-Chiroli ranges are the chain of mountain ranges in the eastern part of Maharashtra. The Konkan coastal region is stretched from Gujarat to Kerala. It is located at the west side of the Western Ghats, sandwiched between the Sahyadri range and the Arabian Sea.
Out of the five major rivers in India, the holy Godavari river flows through Maharashtra. Other main rivers in Maharashtra are Krishna, Bhima, Purna, Wardha Wainganga, Narmada and Tapi. These rivers have formed the important features on the land surface of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra has numerous lakes. Thane is known as the city of lakes as it has about 30 lakes. The most important lakes in Maharashtra are the Talao Pali Lake, the Upvan Lake, the Rankala Lake, the Ramkund Lake, the Lonar Lake, the Venna Lake, the Pashan Lake, the Ambazari Lake and the Koyna Reservoir.
The vegetation and the soil in Maharashtra are inextricably linked with its geology and climate. The Deccan Plateau contains the black basalt soil, which is suitable for cotton cultivation. The Wardha Wainganga river valley contains the saline soils and old crystalline rocks.
The climate in Maharashtra is a tropical monsoon type. The onset of the monsoons is in the early June. Duration of the rainy season is from June to September. The climatic conditions are cold from October end to February. You can experience high temperatures from March to May. The average temperature in Maharashtra is about 25 to 27 degree centigrade throughout the year, which makes it a perfect destination for the tourists.
The mineral-rich regions of Maharashtra are Vidarbha, southern Kolhapur and Sindhudurg. The important minerals of the state are coal, iron ore, limestone and manganese. These minerals have enriched the geography of Maharashtra and thereby facilitated it to make an enduring contribution to the state's economy.
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