South India is a linguistic-cultural region
of India that comprises the four states of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the two Union Territories
of Lakshadweep and Puducherry, whose inhabitants are collectively
referred to as South Indians.
This region includes the entire Indian Peninsula, south of
the Vindhya Range. The Narmada and Mahanadi rivers form the
northern boundaries of the region, while the Arabian Sea,
Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal surround the peninsula
in the west, south and east respectively.
The southernmost point of the region (and of mainland India),
is Kanyakumari. The geography of South India is diverse, encompassing
two mountain ranges — the Western Ghats and Eastern
Ghats and a plateau heartland. The Tungabhadra, Kaveri, Krishna
and Godavari rivers are important non-perennial sources of
water.
dominant feature of South India is the tropical climate. Lush
evergreen vegetation, the South Western Ghats moist deciduous
forests are found along the Western Ghats. Tropical Dry Forests,
the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests and scrub lands
Deccan thorn scrub forests are common in the interior Deccan
plateau. The southern Western Ghats have high altitude rain
forests called the South Western Ghats montane rain forests.
The Malabar Coast moist forests are found on the coastal plains.
The Western Ghats itself is a biodiversity hotspot.
A mountian stream in Nelliampathi, Kerala.Some of the most
famous wildlife sanctuaries are found in South India. These
include Project Tiger reserves such as Periyar National Park,
Silent Valley National Park, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger
Reserve, among many others. Important bird sanctuaries including
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Neelapattu
and Pulicat Sanctuary are home to numerous migratory and local
birds.
Important protected ecological sites include the Annamalai
Hills and Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats and backwaters
like the Pulicut Lake in Andhra Pradesh, Pitchavarum in Tamil
Nadu and the famed backwaters of Kerala formed by the Vembanad
Lake, the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kayamkulam Lake. The Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve, located at the conjunction of the borders
of Karnataka, Kerela and Tamilnadu, consists of the neighbouring
Mudumalai National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole
National Park and Waynad wildlife sanctuary is an important
ecological feature in this region.
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