Geography of Maharashtra

Overview

Maharashtra is India's third-largest state by area (307,713 sq km) and second-largest by population. For MAHA TET Paper II Social Studies, questions on Maharashtra's geography test your knowledge of its physical divisions, major rivers, climate patterns, and natural resources. This topic connects directly to Environmental Studies themes and often appears alongside questions on Maharashtra's economy and culture.

Candidates must visualise Maharashtra's location (western India, bounded by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and the Arabian Sea) and understand how its physical features influence agriculture, settlement, and livelihoods. Expect 2–4 questions covering relief features, river systems, rainfall distribution, and mineral/forest resources.

Key Concepts

• **Three major physical divisions**: Maharashtra is divided into the Konkan coastal plain (west), the Sahyadri mountain range (Western Ghats), and the Deccan Plateau (east). Each has distinct landforms, soil, and climate.

• **Western Ghats (Sahyadri)**: A continuous mountain range running north-south along the western edge; average height 1,000–1,200 m. Key peaks include Kalsubai (1,646 m, highest in Maharashtra), Salher, Harishchandragad, and Mahabaleshwar.

• **Deccan Plateau**: Covers most of eastern Maharashtra; composed of Deccan Trap basalt from ancient lava flows. Characterised by flat-topped hills, black (regur) soil ideal for cotton, and low rainfall.

• **Konkan Coast**: Narrow coastal strip between the Arabian Sea and Sahyadris; width 30–60 km. Receives heavy monsoon rainfall; rice, coconut, and mango are major crops.

• **River systems**: Most rivers originate in the Western Ghats and flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari ("Dakshin Ganga") and Krishna are the two longest. Westward-flowing rivers are short and swift.

• **Monsoon climate**: Maharashtra has a tropical monsoon climate. The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings 80% of annual rainfall; the Konkan receives over 2,500 mm while Vidarbha receives only 800–1,000 mm.

• **Soil types**: Black soil (regur) dominates the plateau; laterite soil in the Konkan and Sahyadri foothills; alluvial soil along river valleys.

• **Natural resources**: Rich in coal (Chandrapur, Nagpur), manganese (Bhandara, Nagpur), bauxite (Kolhapur, Ratnagiri), iron ore, and limestone. Forests cover about 17% of the state area.

Formulas / Key Facts

| Feature | Key Fact | |---------|----------| | Area | 307,713 sq km (9.36% of India) | | Highest peak | Kalsubai — 1,646 m (Ahmednagar district) | | Longest river | Godavari — 1,465 km total; ~700 km in Maharashtra | | Major eastward rivers | Godavari, Krishna, Bhima, Wardha, Wainganga, Penganga | | Major westward rivers | Ulhas, Vashishti, Savitri, Kundalika | | Annual rainfall range | 400 mm (rain-shadow areas) to 6,000 mm (Amboli, Mahabaleshwar) | | Black soil coverage | Approximately 82% of cultivated area | | Coal reserves | Chandrapur and Nagpur districts (Wardha Valley coalfields) | | Forest cover | About 50,000 sq km (~17% of state area) | | Coastal length | 720 km along the Arabian Sea |