India: Climate, Vegetation And Wildlife

Due to India’s location in the tropical region, most of the rain is brought by the monsoon wind. Agriculture on India is dependent on rains hence, good monsoon is required for beautiful crops.

Additional information- Monsoon is taken from the Arabic word ‘mausim’ which means seasons.

Broadly, the major seasons recognized in India are:

● Cold weather season (Winter), December to February.

● Hot weather season (Summer), March to May.

● Southwest Monsoon season (Rainy), June to September.

● Season of Retreating Monsoon (Autumn), October and November.

Additional information-The climate of a place is affected by its location, altitude, distance from the sea and relief. Therefore, we experience regional differences in the climate of India.

We see a variety of plants in or surroundings. There are also small plants called bushes and shrubs. Besides, there are many tall trees. The grasses, shrubs and trees which grow on their own without interference or help from human beings are called natural vegetation.

Additional information-There are several kinds of trees like Neem, mango that have so many branches and leaves, while trees like palm trees have fewer leaves. Different type of natural vegetation are dependent on different climatic conditions, among which the amount of rainfall is very important.

Due to varied climatic conditions, India has a wide range of natural vegetation. Vegetation of India can be divided into five types-

1.Tropical evergreen forest
2. Tropical deciduous forests
3. Thorny bushes
4. Mountain vegetation
5. Mangrove forests.

Additional information-Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country. A wide range of species is found in the mountains according to their variation in height. Mangrove forests can survive in saline water. They are found mainly in Sunderbans, West Bengal and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The tropical rainforests occur in the areas which receive heavy rainfall. They are so dense that the sunlight doesn’t reach the ground. Many species of trees found in these forests, shed their leaves at different times of the year. Therefore, they always appear green and are called evergreen forests.

Additional information- Important trees found in Tropical evergreen forests are mahogany, rosewood and ebony. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of North-eastern states and a narrow strip of the Western Ghats are home of these forests.

Mawsynram is a town in Meghalaya. Mawsynram receives an annual rainfall 11,873 mm, per year.

Mangrove forests are found in Sunderbans in West Bengal and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sundari is a well-known species of trees of Mangrove forests.

tropical evergreen forests

The tiger is our national animal and is found in many parts of the country. Elephants and one-horned rhinos roam in the forests of Assam. Elephants are found in Kerala and Karnataka. Bears are also found in Himalayan region.

The Southwest monsoon period is marked by the onset and advance of monsoon. The winds blow from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land.

(a) Hot and dry winds known as loo blow during the day in the summers.

Loo is a strong dry and dry summer wind from the west which blows over the western Indo-Gangetic Plain.

(b) The states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu receive a great amount of rainfall during the season of retreating monsoons.

Retreat monsoon blows from the northeast across the Bay of Bengal. Good monsoon mean adequate rain and a beautiful crop.

(c) Gir forest in Gujarat is the home of Asiatic lions.

The Gir Forest National Park was established in 1965. There are other species of fauna available in Gir Forests.

(d) Sundari is a well-known species of mangrove forests.

Mangrove forests play a relevant role in climate change.

(e) Tropic deciduous forest are also called monsoon forests.

In large part of India, Tropic deciduous forests can be found. The trees of these forests shed their leaves during a particular time of the year.