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Geography and Climate
Kerala is the southern most state of India with a total area of
38.864 km2
( 15.000 sq. miles) only. It stretches
from north to south for a distance of 360 miles and never exceeds 70
miles in width. Kerala projects a picture of tropical beauty and
rich fertility. The state lies in the path of both the south-west
and the north-east monsoons, thus getting exposed to two raining
seasons, the first being the long and steady one and the second,
called "thulavarsha", the short and heavy one. The average annual
rainfall ranges from 97 to 101 inches, a much higher rate in
comparison to the north and the Deccan Plateau. This places the area
into rain forest classification. The greenery of Kerala owes itself
to these climatic conditions.
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Situated between the equator and
the cancer Kerala has a typical tropical climate. The average
temperature lies between 18 –35° C, with April and May being the
hottest and December and January being the coolest. During the
monsoon period Kerala receives a rainfall of 2500mm, monsoon
rains usually start from June and subside by the end of
September. |
Technically, Kerala is comprised of three belts- the high interior
range of archaic hills, which lie in the east, the low to medium
elevation lateritic plateaus and the coastal plain. The eastern
mountain region, which is covered by valuable forest, is gradually
giving way to the enrichment of man. Tea plantations that dominate
the trade of the same in the country are located in Munnar and the
adjacent areas. The low lands of "Kuttanad" and central Kerala
produces the bulk of rice, hence the district of Palakkad is called"
the rice bowl of Kerala". In short, Kerala consists of the densely
populated lowlands covered with rivers and backwaters, the
alternating green of coconut plantations and the rice fields, not to
forget the fishing boats and nets that dots the coast ! Truly an
enchanting place.
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