|
Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India by area and the ninth largest
by population. It was formerly known as Mysore. On November 1,1973,
the name Mysore was changed to Karnataka.
 Karnataka
lies between 74o and 78o East longitudes and 11o
and 18o North latitudes. 
It is situated on the western edge of the Deccan plateau and is surrounded
by Maharashtra and Goa in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the east, and Tamil
Nadu and Kerala in the south. On the west, it opens out on the Arabian
Sea.
Geographically, Karnataka occupies three natural regions
like the Coastal strip, the Sahyadris and the Deccan plateau. They are
known in Kannada language as Paschima Karavali, Malnad and Maidan respectively.
The topography of Karnataka is largely a reflection of
the geology of the state. The Sahyadris are covered with evergreen forests.
They drop abruptly towards the Arabian Sea, thus forming a natural barrier
between the plateau and the coastal regions. Four passes provide access
to the coast. They are the Subrahmanya Ghat, the Charmadi Ghat, the Shiradi
Ghat, and the famous Agumbe Ghat. The Western Ghats slope gently towards
the Bay of Bengal. This is the plateau region drained by the two principal
rivers Krishna and the Kaveri. The average elevation of the plateau is
about 610 meters above sea-level.
|
