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TOPOGRAPHY
Kasaragod
district lies between 110 18' and 120
48' north latitudes and between 740 52'
and 750 26' east longitudes. The district
is marked off from the adjoining areas outside the
State by the Western Ghats, which run parallel to
the sea and constitute an almost continuous mountain
wall on the eastern side. The Ghats dominate the
topography. The cost line is fringed with low cliffs
alternating with stretches of sand. A few miles to
the interior, the scene changes and the sand level
rises towards the barrier of the Ghats and transforms
into low red laterite hills interspersed with paddy
fields and coconut gardens.
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The district is bounded in the east by the Western
Ghats, in the west by the Arabian sea, the north
by the Canara district of Karnataka and in the south
by the Kannur District. Based on physical features
the district falls into three natural divisions-the
low land bordering the sea, the mid land consisting
of the undulating country and the forest clad highland
on the extreme east.
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CLIMATE
The
diversity of the physical features results in a corresponding
diversity of climate. In the plains, the climate
is generally hot. Though the mean maximum temperature
is only around 900 F, the heat is oppressive
in the moisture-laden atmosphere of the plains. Humidity
is very high and rises to about 90 per cent during
the southwest monsoon. The annual variation of temperature
is small; the diurnal range is only about 100
F.
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Average
rainfall
| Month |
Rainfall
(m.m.) |
| January |
30.9 |
| February |
0.0 |
| March |
0.0 |
| April
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38.1 |
| May |
339.9 |
| June |
1056.5 |
| July |
675.4 |
| August |
553.0 |
| September |
74.2 |
| October |
306.3 |
| November |
28.1 |
| December |
49.8 |
| Annual |
3152.2 |
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The
south-west monsoon starts towards the end of May or
the beginning of June, heralded by thunder-storms
and holds till September when the rain fades out.
October brings in the north-east monsoon. Dry weather
sets in by the end of December. January and February
are the coolest months of the year. March, April
and May are generally very hot.
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FOREST
Kasaragod
district has a forest area of 117.5412. sq. kms. falling
under the Kannur Forest Division. Reserve forest stretches
to 86.0221 sq.kms. and vested forest, to 28.4971 sq.kms.
It stretches in two ranges-Kasaragod and Kanhangad.
The forest produces are shegaibark, sheakoy, cardamom,
canes, fibres, etc. Sambar, the fastest deer, is seen
in some areas. Wild boars are a nuisance to the cultivators
of hilly areas.
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RIVERS
There
are 12 rivers in this district. The longest is Chandragiri
(105 kms.) originating from Pattimala in Coorg and
embraces the sea at Thalangara. The river assumes
its name Chandragiri from the name of the place of
its source Chandragupta Vasti; where the great Maurya
emperor Chandragupta, is believed to have spent his
last days as a sage. The second longest river is
Kariankod (64 kms.), across which a dam is being built
at Kakkadavu. Shiriya (61 kms.), Uppala (50 kms.),
Mogral (34 kms.), Chithari (25 kms.), Nileshwaram
(47 kms.), Kavvayi (23 kms.), Manjeswaram (16 kms.),
Kumbala (11 kms.), Bekal (11 kms.) and Kalanad (8
kms.) are the other rivers. These rivers provide
ample irrigation facilities.
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