Geography of India (Part -IV) (UPSC)

• Doddabetta: The highest peak of the Nilgiri Hills is Doddabetta Peak, which is located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu. Doddabetta Peak has an elevation of 2,637 meters (8,650 feet) above sea level, and it is the highest point in the Nilgiri mountain range. The name Doddabetta means "big mountain" in the local Kannada language.
• Mukurthi National Park: Located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, Mukurthi National Park is a protected area that is known for its unique shola-grassland ecosystem and rich biodiversity. It is home to many
  species of flora and fauna, including the Nilgiri tahr, an endangered species of mountain goat.
• Ooty Hill Station: Ooty Hill Station, also known as Udhagamandalam or Ootacamund, is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level and is known for its cool and pleasant climate throughout the year
• Coonoor Hill Station: Coonoor Hill Station is a picturesque town located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at an altitude of 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) above sea level and is known for its natural beauty, tea plantations, and colonial-era architecture.
• Silent Valley National Park: Silent Valley National Park is a protected area located in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. It is named "Silent Valley" because of the absence of cicadas, which are known for their loud and persistent calls. It is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, including the lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur.

The saltwater crocodile was commonly found throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, living in mangrove habitats. The Shrew and Tapir are found in the Western Ghats of the Malabar region.
About Saltwater Crocodile

• It is the largest and heaviest of all living reptiles in the world.
• Scientific Name: Crocodylus porosus
• It is also known as the estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, marine crocodile, sea crocodile, or informally as saltie.
• It is an opportunistic hypercarnivorous apex predator.
• Distribution: It is native to saltwater habitats and brackish wetlands from India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaic region to northern Australia and Micronesia.

Namchik-Namphuk coalfields are located in Arunachal Pradesh.
Features:

• Expected to generate 100 crore annual revenue for the state.
• Will create local employment opportunities and curb illegal mining.
• Emphasises eco-sensitive mining under "Mission Green Coal Regions," ensuring land reclamation and afforestation.
• Supports PM EAST vision - Empower, Act, Strengthen, Transform for balanced Northeast development.

The mineral deposits in Chhattisgarh include Bauxite (96 million tons), Dolomite (606 million tons), and Iron ore (2336 million tons).
Chhattisgarh possesses the ideal geological conditions to support a variety of economically viable mineral resources. Multiple thermotactic events have occurred in the region, spanning major metallogenic and mineralogic occurrences. A considerable portion of the state is covered by cratons, mobile beits, and supracrustal belts, which provide an ideal habitat for a wide range of mineral deposits. Diamond, coal, iron ron ore, are, limestone, limestone, dolomite, bauaite, and and tin tin ore ore a are important minerals clovely tiest with the state's name
Only Chhattisgarh is an Indian state that produces tin ore. Gold and other precious metals and atomic minerals are found throughout the state, which resulted in the economic growth of Chattisgarh. Corundum, Clay, Quartzite, Base metals, Fluorite, Beryl, Andalusite, Kyanite, Sillimanite, Talc, Soapstone, and Garnet, are among the other minerals.

The Tehri Hydropower complex is located on the Bhagirathi River in Uttar Pradesh.
Bhagirathi River:

• Originates from Gaumukh, located at the base of Gangotri and Khatilang glaciers in Uttarakhand.
• Regarded as the birthplace of the Ganga on earth.
• The Ganga Goddess is worshipped at Gangotri temple, one of the Chota Char Dham temples in Garhwal.
• Course: Extends for about 205 km.
• Joined by small streams and rivers along its course.
  Ends its journey at Devprayag, where it merges with Alaknanda to form the Ganga.
• Headstreams: One of the two headstreams of the Ganga, the other being Alaknanda River.
• Bhagirathi is mythologically considered the source stream of the Ganga.
• Alaknanda is considered the source stream based on length and discharge.
• Tributaries: Joined by tributaries such as Kedar Ganga, Jadh Ganga, Kakora Gad, Jalandari Gad, Siyan Gad, Asi Ganganear, and Bhilangana.

Shivasamudram Falls is located on the Cauvery River. Jog Waterfall is the highest waterfall in India at 253 meters on the Sharavathi River.
A waterfall is formed when river water falls steeply down from higher ground. Typically, waterfalls are found in the upper reaches of rivers, where the terrain is mountainous and steep. Due to the specific geographical conditions, many waterfalls are located over solid bedrock and are often fed by small tributaries, making them seasonal. As a result, these waterfalls are usually temporary and are most visible during heavy rainfalls, In this article, we have shared the list of Waterfalls in India for general awareness.

The Damanganga Water Project is in Gujarat. The Girna Irrigation Project is in the Jalgaon area of Maharashtra. The Pamba River is located in Kerala.

About Irrigation System

• Irrigation is the controlled application of water through man-made systems to meet the water requirements of agriculture.
• Irrigation is the application of artificial water to crops or plants, especially when rain does not provide enough water for an agricultural field.
• Despite having the largest irrigated area in the world, India faces acute water scarcity. We must adopt irrigation methods that help save freshwater and provide sufficient water for plants’ growth.
• Thus, irrigation supplies water to crops by artificial means such as canals, wells, tube wells, tanks, etc., from sources such as rivers, ponds, or underground water.
• The main idea behind irrigation systems is to assist in the growth of crops and plants by maintaining the minimum amount of water required, suppressing weed growth in grain fields, and preventing soil consolidation.
• In India, two-thirds of the total cropped area needs irrigation. The nature of monsoon rainfall in India is uncertain, unreliable, irregular, variable, seasonal, and unevenly distributed.

The Tapovan and Vishnugarh hydroelectric projects are located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
Hydroelectric power plants play a crucial part in india's energy sector. Due to the presence of 197 Hydroelectric power plants, India ranks fifth in hydropower capacity, In 1947, hydropower accounted for approximately 37% of the total power generating capacity and more than 53% of power generation. In the late 1960s, coal-fired power generation began to supplant hydropower in India, and hydropower's share of capacity and generation fell dramatically.
With India's ambitious renewable energy target of achieving 500 GW from non-fossil sources by 2030. The hydro capacity of India is likely to increase from 42 GW to 67 GW by 2031-32, marking an increase of more than half of the present capacity.