Overview
Kerala's topography consists mainly of a coastal plain that rises gradually in altitude in the east to reach the mountains of the Western Ghats. The state has 44 rivers, 41 of which have their source in the Western Ghats. All these rivers originate in the monsoon season and wither away in the dry season. They are relatively short and not very powerful, as the distance between the mountains and the sea is limited. The Periyar River, 244 km long, is the longest river in the region. It is of paramount importance to Kerala's economy, as several dams along the river, notably Idduki and Mullaperiyar, generate and supply large quantities of electricity to the state. The Bharathappuzha River, 209 km long, is of major religious and cultural significance. Sometimes referred to as the Nila, it rises in the Anaimalai mountains in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, then flows through the districts of Palakkad, Thrissur and Malappuram, before emptying into the Laquedive Sea via the Ponnani delta.
The coastal belt stretches from Kanwatheertha, in Kasaragod district in the north, to Poovar, in Thiruvananthapuram district in the south. The 580 km-long coastline is a continuation of the Malabar coast. It consists of long, palm-fringed sandy beaches, deltas, rivers, lakes and a sprawling network of brackish water lagoons known as backwaters. These waterways, once used extensively for commercial and local transport, are now one of India's most famous tourist attractions. The country's largest lake, 96.5 km long and with a total surface area of 230 km2, lies at the heart of the backwaters : Lake Vembanad, which stretches from Kochi via Kumarakom to Alappuzha (Alleppey). It is also sometimes called Lake Punnamada or Kochi Lake, depending on location, and is a source of food and income for farmers, fishermen and local residents. Unfortunately, the lake is shrinking year by year due to new construction on its banks, and faces major ecological problems (recurrent flooding, pollution problems). Lake Ashtamudi, which surrounds the Kollam region, is the second largest lake in the state. At 16 km long and with a surface area of 62 km2, its dimensions are far from those of Lake Vembanad.
The central plains make up around 40% of Kerala's surface area. These are predominantly agricultural regions, where rice is grown intensively, as well as coconuts, cashews (particularly in the Kollam district), vegetables, etc. The Kuttanad region is known as the "rice ball of Kerala" and has the lowest altitude in the country. It is also one of the few places in the world where rice is grown below sea level.
The Western Ghats are a mountain range stretching from Gujarat to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. They form a natural border with neighboring Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, these mountains stretch from Sultan Bathery in the north to Ponmudi in the south. The Western Ghats act as a natural barrier, intercepting winds and protecting the plains from the monsoon rains. These specific climatic conditions, combined with a particular topography, have led to the emergence of a unique biodiversity zone of rare richness. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, covering 5,520 km2, is the country's largest protected forest area. It covers three states: Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Mountains, known as the "Blue Mountains", are home not only to remarkable flora and fauna, but also to a number of indigenous tribal groups whose way of life is under serious threat. This exceptional ecological and cultural capital is protected by a large number of national parks, sanctuaries and nature reserves.Eravikulam National Park, near Munnar, is home to the country's highest peak outside the Himalayas: Anamudi, at 2,695 metres above sea level. For travellers, the Western Ghats are a privileged destination, with a pleasantly cool climate contrasting with the heat of the plains. Numerous high-altitude resorts are popular with local and international tourists: Munnar with its endless tea plantations, Kumily with its countless spice gardens, the Wayanad district with its sumptuous green landscapes and bewitching national parks, Ooty (Tamil Nadu) with its "toy train" winding through the mountains... Many waterfalls and cascades can be found in the Western Ghats. In Kerala, the most impressive are the famous Athirapally Falls, in the Thrissur district. All these waterfalls are at their most spectacular at the end of the monsoon season.
Political geography
The capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram, with a population of around 750,000. The largest agglomeration is Greater Kochi, which comprises the city of Kochi and 9 neighboring municipalities, with a population of over 3 million. The state is divided into 14 districts, from north to south: Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam (Kochi), Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Mahé, the former French trading post near Thalassery in the north, is under the jurisdiction of the Union Territory of Puducherry and therefore not officially part of Kerala. The largest district is Palakkad, the smallest Alappuzha. The state also has 78 administrative sub-divisions, known as taluks, and 87 municipalities. It's worth noting that since independence in 1947, many of the country's towns have chosen to abandon their former colonial names and revert to their original ones, a process that continues to this day. In Kerala, several towns changed their names in 1990, but are still commonly referred to by their old names by foreign travelers and even locals. These include Alappuzha (formerly Alleppey), Kozhikode (Calicut), Kollam (Quilon), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kannur (Cannanore), Thalassery (Tellichery)..
