Geography​ ​of​ ​West​ ​Bengal

০ The state lies between 21০ 38 ' N and 27০10' N. Its longitudinal extent is 85০30' E
and 89০53' E.
০ Extension : North South → 623 kms.
East-West​ ​→​ ​320​ ​kms.
০ The narrowest part → Chopra of North Dinajpur, 9 km wide.
০ The Tropic of Cancer passes through Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura and Purulia
districts.
০ West Bengal is the 14th largest state of India.
০ Area → 88752 sq. km.
০ West Bengal covers 2.67% of the total area of India.
০ State animal of West Bengal → Fishing cat.
০ State bird is white throated kingfisher.
০ State tree → Devil Tree.
০ State flower → Night flowering jasmine.
Physiographic​ ​Divisions
Northern​ ​Mountains:-
০ Generally known as the Darjeeling Himalayan region.
০ Highest peak → Sandakphu ( 3630 m). It is the highest peak of West Bengal.
০ The Tista river has divided the region into two parts- Western mountain region &
Eastern​ ​Mountain​ ​Region.
০ The two main mountain range of Western Mountain region is Singalila & Darjeeling
range.​ ​Singalila​ ​separates​ ​Sikkim​ ​from​ ​Nepal.
০ The major peaks of Singalila range are-
Sandakphu​ ​-​ ​3630.​ ​metres
Phalhut​ ​-​ ​3595​ ​metres
Sabargram-​ ​3036​ ​metres
Tanglu-​ ​3121​ ​metres.
০ Darjeeling range is also known as Ghum range.
০ Ghum is the highest railway station in the world.
০ The highest peak of Darjeeling range is Tiger Hill (3121 metres).
০ Richila is the highest peak of Eastern Mountain range.
০ The Sinchula forms the common boundary between Bhutan & Jalpaiguri.
০ Buxa, the main mountain pass of Eastern
Mountain​ ​range,​ ​joins​ ​India​ ​and​ ​Bhutan.
Western​ ​Plateau​ ​:-
০ Areas → The whole part of Purulia western part of Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura
and​ ​West​ ​Midnapore​ ​Districts.
০ Bakreswar, a hot water spring is in Birbhum district.
০ Some important hills of Western Plateau and its location

Hill​ ​-​ ​Location​ ​(​ ​District)

Ayodhya-​ ​Purulia
Bagmundi-​ ​Purulia
 Panchet-​ ​Purulia
Bhandari-​ ​Purulia
Belpahari-​ ​West​ ​Midnapore
Mama​ ​Bhagne​ ​-​ ​Birbhum
Mathurkali-​ ​ ​Birbhum
Susunia-​ ​Bankura
Biharinath-​ ​Bankura.

Plains:-
০ Maximum area of West Bengal are plains.
০ Extension → Siliguri to the coast of Bay of Bengal.
০ Divisions → 2. I. Plains of North Bengal II. Plains of South Bengal
I.​ ​Plains​ ​of​ ​North​ ​Bengal
০ Extension → Siliguri to north bank of the Ganges.
০ Terai or Duars- Tarai means wetland. Western part of river Tista → Tarai. East part
of​ ​river​ ​Tista​ ​→​ ​Duar.
০ Northern plain is categorised into three-
A. Barendrabhumi- Made up of old alluvial soil. Area → Southern part of North &
South​ ​Dinajpur​ ​and​ ​eastern​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Malda​ ​districts.
B. Diara- Area- Western part of Malda District. Fertile plain of new alluvial soil
brought​ ​in​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Kalindi​ ​river.
C.​ ​Tal-​ ​The​ ​land​ ​area​ ​between​ ​the​ ​rivers​ ​Mahananda​ ​and​ ​Kalindi.
II.​ ​Plains​ ​of​ ​South​ ​Bengal
A. Rarh area- Western part of Murshidabad, Eastern part of Bankura, Burdwan and
Birbhum​ ​and​ ​Western​ ​part​ ​of​ ​West​ ​Midnapore​ ​districts.​ ​This​ ​area​ ​has​ ​red​ ​soil.
B. Delta plain- Eastern part of Murshidabad district and the entire Nadia district (
Moribund​ ​delta​ ​plain.
Bardwan,​ ​East​ ​Midnapore,​ ​Howrah​ ​ ​and​ ​Hooghly​ ​(​ ​Mature​ ​Delta​ ​plain).
South eastern part of south 24 parganas and southern part of North 24 parganas (
Active​ ​Delta​ ​plain).
C. Sandy coastal Plain- The costal area along the Bay of Bengal in East Midnapore
district.
D.​ ​Sundarban​ ​plains-​ ​Area→​ ​Southern​ ​part​ ​of​ ​North​ ​and​ ​South​ ​24​ ​Parganas.
Rivers​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal
০ River- Source- Falling Point
Tista (411 km), River of fear - Jemu Glacier in Sikkim- Jamuna river ( Brahmaputra)
in​ ​Bangladesh
Mahananda (29 km)- Mahaldiram mountain in Darjeeling - Padma ( Ganga) in
Bangladesh
Jaldhaka (236 km)- Bidang lake on the border of Sikkim and Bhutan- Jamuna in
Bangladesh.
Torsa​ ​(358​ ​km)​ ​-​ ​Tang​ ​pass​ ​of​ ​Chumbig​ ​Valley​ ​-​ ​Jamuna​ ​in​ ​Bangladesh.
Kaljani​ ​-​ ​Bhutan​ ​Hill-​ ​Jamuna​ ​in​ ​Bangladesh
Raidak-​ ​Akangchu​ ​Peak​ ​in​ ​Bhutan​ ​-​ ​Jamuna​ ​in​ ​Bangladesh
০ Ganga- 1. Ganga is the longer river in West Bengal.
2.​ ​Length​ ​→​ ​520​ ​km​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal.
3. Tributaries in West Bengal → Damodar, Rupnarayan, Mayurakshi, Kangsabati
and​ ​Ajoy.
4.​ ​Distributaries​ ​→​ ​Jalangi,​ ​Hooghly,​ ​Ichehamati,​ ​Churnd​ ​and​ ​Mathanbhanga.
5.​ ​Bhagirathi​ ​→​ ​Murshidabad​ ​to​ ​Hooghly.
Hooghly​ ​river​ ​→​ ​from​ ​Hooghly​ ​to​ ​Bay​ ​of​ ​Bengal.
০ Rivers of the Western Plateau

River-​ ​Source​ ​-​ ​Falling​ ​Point

Damodar ( 313 km in West Bengal), Sorrow River of Bengal- Khamarpot hill in
Chotanagpur​ ​Plateau​ ​-​ ​Bhagirathi​ ​at​ ​Uluberia.
Subarnarekha​ ​(​ ​477​ ​km)-​ ​Touri​ ​in​ ​Jharkhand-​ ​Bay​ ​of​ ​Bengal.
Kangsabati​ ​(336​ ​km)​ ​-​ ​Jhabar​ ​forests​ ​hill​ ​in​ ​Ayodhya​ ​hill-​ ​Hooghly​ ​River.
Ajay​ ​(276​ ​km)​ ​-​ ​Dumka​ ​in​ ​Jharkhand​ ​-​ ​Bhagirathi​ ​River
Mayurakshi-​ ​Trikut​ ​hill​ ​in​ ​Jharkhand​ ​-​ ​Bhagirathi​ ​river.
Rupnarayan​ ​-​ ​Western​ ​Plateau​ ​from​ ​Tilbi​ ​hill-​ ​Hooghly​ ​river.
Haldi-​ ​Kangsabati​ ​and​ ​Kaliaghai​ ​join​ ​to​ ​form​ ​this​ ​river-​ ​Bhagirathi​ ​river.

০ Rivers of Sundarban Region → Matla, Ichamati, Raimangal, Vidyadhari, Gosaba,

Thakuran​ ​etc.
০ Climate of West Bengal → Tropical monsoon in the southern part and humid
sub-tropical in the north except in the northern mountainous region of Darjeeling and
Jalpaiguri​ ​districts.
2.​ ​Kalbaisakhi​ ​or​ ​Norwesters​ ​occur​ ​in​ ​early​ ​summer.
3. Most of the rainfall in West Bengal occurs from the Bay of Bengal branch of Indian
Monsoon.
4.​ ​Highest​ ​Rainfall​ ​→​ ​Buxa​ ​Duars​ ​in​ ​Jalpaiguri.
5.​ ​Lowest​ ​Rainfall​ ​→​ ​Mayureswar​ ​in​ ​Birbhum.
Soil​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal
Soil​ ​type-​ ​Area
Mountain​ ​soil​ ​-​ ​Northern​ ​mountain​ ​region
Old Alluvial soil - North and south part of Dinajpur, East Malda and Eastern part of
Birbhum.
New Alluvial Soil - Murshidabad, Nadia, North and South 24 parganas, Hooghly,
Howra​ ​and​ ​East​ ​Midnapore.
Laterite soil - Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura, Burdwan, and some part of West
Midnapore.
Red​ ​Soil-​ ​Eastern​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Western​ ​plateau
Saline​ ​Soil-​ ​Sundarban​ ​and​ ​coastal​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​state.
০ Agriculture in West Bengal
Crop-​ ​Production​ ​area
Paddy-​ ​Bardwan​ ​(​ ​Paddy​ ​granary​ ​of​ ​West​ ​Bengal),​ ​West​ ​Midnapore,​ ​Murshidabad
Jute - Murshidabad, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Jalpaiguri and Cooch
-Behar.
Tea-​ ​Darjeeling​ ​and​ ​some​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​Purulia​ ​and​ ​Ayodhya​ ​hills.
Wheat-​ ​Murshidabad,​ ​Nadia,​ ​Birbhum
Barley-​ ​Murshidabad,​ ​Nadia,​ ​Jalpaiguri.
Potato-​ ​Hooghly,​ ​Burdwan,East​ ​and​ ​West​ ​Midnapore
Sugarcane-​ ​Murshidabad,​ ​Nadia​ ​and​ ​Burdwan.
Tobacco​ ​-​ ​Cooch​ ​Behar,​ ​Jalpaiguri,​ ​North​ ​and​ ​South​ ​Dinajpur.
Betel​ ​leaf-​ ​Howrah,​ ​East​ ​and​ ​West​ ​Midnapore.

#FOREST​ ​RESERVES​ ​OF​ ​WEST​ ​BENGAL

০ Nama - Location
Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Neora Valley National Park, Singalila National Park-
Darjeeling
Buxa​ ​Tiger​ ​Reserve​ ​-​ ​Alipurduar
Gorumara​ ​National​ ​Park-​ ​Darjeeling,Jalpaiguri
Jaldapara​ ​National​ ​Park,​ ​Chapramari​ ​Wildlife​ ​Sanctuary​ ​-​ ​Jalpaiguri
Haliday Island, Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary -
South​ ​24​ ​Parganas.
#​ ​Minerals​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal
Mineral​ ​-​ ​Place
Coal ( mostly bituminous) - Raniganj, Asansol, Jamuria and Ramnagar of Burdwan,
Barjora,​ ​Mezia​ ​of​ ​Bankura​ ​and​ ​Nituria​ ​of​ ​Purulia.
Lime​ ​Stone-​ ​Purulia​ ​and​ ​Bankura
Manganese​ ​-​ ​West​ ​Midnapore,​ ​Purulia​ ​and​ ​Burdwan
Dolomite-​ ​Jalpaiguri
Phosphate​ ​rock-​ ​Purulia
Iron​ ​ore-​ ​Purulia,​ ​Bankura,​ ​and​ ​Darjeeling,
Kyanite-​ ​Purulia
Asbestos​ ​-​ ​West​ ​Midnapore
Apatite-​ ​Purulia
China​ ​clay-​ ​Purulia
#​ ​Industries​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal
০ India's first jute mill → Rishra in Hooghly.
০ Tea Industry → Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.
০ Durgapur is called the Ruhr of India.
০ Cotton and Textiles Industry → Uluberia, Howra, Srirampore, Belgharia.
০ Murshidabad is famous for silk industry.
০ Paper Industry → Titagarh, Kankinara, Naihati, Raniganj, Asansol.
০ Aluminium Industry → J.K Nagar.
০ Leather industry → Batanagar, Tangra near Kolkata.
০ Chemical Industry → Kolkata port ( Sulphuric acid), Haldia ( Soda Ash), Titagarh)
Caustic​ ​Soda),​ ​ ​Durgapur.
০ Engineering Industry
Industry​ ​-​ ​Location
Railway​ ​locomotive​ ​-​ ​Chittaranjan,
Ship​ ​Building​ ​-​ ​Khidirpur
Railway​ ​coaches-​ ​DumDum
Military​ ​arms​ ​and​ ​weapons​ ​-​ ​Ichchapur,​ ​Cossipur​ ​and​ ​Dum​ ​Dum.
#​ ​Transport​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Bengal
০ Total length of roads in West Bengal _ 92023 km which is 3.06 % of the total road
length​ ​of​ ​India.
০ National Highway - Joining Places
NH2-​ ​DELHI-KOLKATA
NH6-​ ​HAZIRA-KOLKATA
NH31A-​ ​SEBAK-GANGTOK
NH34-​ ​DALKHOLA-BARASAT-KOLKATA
NH35-​ ​BARASAT-​ ​BONGAONN
NH41-​ ​KOLAGHAT-HALDIA
NH55-​ ​SILIGURI-​ ​DARJEELING
NH60-​ ​BALASORE-​ ​ASANSOL
NH60A-​ ​BANKURA-​ ​PURULIA
NH80-​ ​MOKAMA+​ ​FARAKKA
NH-81-​ ​KORA​ ​-​ ​MALDA
NH117-​ ​KONA​ ​EXPRESS​ ​WAY​ ​VIA​ ​DIAMOND​ ​BARBOUR
NH151-​ ​KARIMGANJ-​ ​BANGLADESH​ ​BORDER
০ Total Railway route → 4481 km.
০ Headquarters of Easter, south -Easter and Kolkata Metro → Kolkata.
০ The State has 3 Airports -
I.​ ​Netaji​ ​Subhas​ ​Chandra​ ​Bose​ ​International​ ​airport​ ​→​ ​Dum​ ​Dum
ii.​ ​Bagdogra​ ​Airport
iii.​ ​Kazi​ ​Nazrul​ ​Islam​ ​Airport​ ​→​ ​Andal​ ​near​ ​Durgapur.
#​ ​Population​ ​of​ ​West​ ​Bengal​ ​(2011)
০ Approximate population → 9.13 crores
০ 7.54 % of the total population in India.
০ Population growth → 13.84 %
০ Sex Ratio → 950
০ Child sex ratio (0-6)→ 956
০ Density → 1028 / km2
০ Literary rate → 76.26%
০ Male Literacy rate → 81.69%, Female → 70.54%.

Thank​ ​You.