Geography of Jammu and Kashmir

The State of Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32.17 degree and 36.58-degree north latitude and 37.26 degree and 80.30-degree east longitude; the total area of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is 22,22,236 square kilometers. The geography of the Kashmir valley, stretches for about 84 miles from the northeast to the southwest and is approximately 20 to 25 miles broad. Its height above the sea level is over 5,000 feet.

The topography of the state is such that, low-lying valleys surrounded by mountain ranges characterize it; the most important of them all is the Kashmir valley that lies 1700 metres above the sea level, encompassed by the mighty Himalayas. Some of these valleys are the Tawi valley, Chenab valley, Poonch valley and Sind Valley.

The mountain chains that adorn the region include the Karakoram range, Nun Kun range, the Zanskar range and Nanga Parbat. The State of Jammu and Kashmir has many Himalayan rivers flowing through it; the most significant among these are the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. Due to the geography, location, climate, soil, rainfall and altitude, the vegetation in the area ranges from tropical deciduous forests to temperate and coniferous forests. The Jammu and Kashmir region has loamy soil rich in magnesia, in most parts. The other varieties of soils found in the region are clay, sandy and peats.

As far as the regional flora is concerned, the area is rich in pines, conifers and medicinal herbs. Fauna in the Jammu and Kashmir region ranges from a variety of mountain birds to animals. The climate in this part of India, as any other depends upon the time of the year and location, the area in naturally cool and extremely cold depending upon the altitude and mountainous geography.