Geography of Kochi

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Location of Kochi in India

Kochi is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam. Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands including Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Mundamveli. Today, Kochi includes Ernakulam, old parts of Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands. For many centuries up to and during the British Raj, the city of Kochi was the seat of the eponymous princely state the Kingdom of Cochin, which lay between 9.48° and 10.50° latitude and 76.5° and 76.58° E longitude.

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Location

A view of the Kochi harbour mouth from Willingdon Island Kochi view from taj malabar.jpg
A view of the Kochi harbour mouth from Willingdon Island

Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India, in the southern state of Kerala. The city lies at the sea mouth of seven major rivers which start from the Western Ghats and travel through Kerala’s midlands, lowlands and coastal areas, to drain out into the Arabian Sea. Earlier, Kochi was used to refer to the region encompassing Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Mundamveli and Thoppumpadi. Today, Kochi comprises the mainland Ernakulam, old Kochi, Kadavanthra, the suburbs of Edapally and the exurbia of Kalamassery and Kakkanad to the northeast; Tripunithura to the south east; and a group of islands closely scattered in the Vembanad lake.

Islands of Kochi

Kochi includes an archipelago of various islands, from large to very small. The major islands in Kochi are :

Geographical features

Kochi lies at the northern end of a narrow neck of land, about 19 km long and less than 1.6 km wide in many places, and is separated from the mainland by inlets from the Arabian sea and by the estuaries of rivers draining from the Western Ghats. As a result, Kochi is a natural harbour.

Much of Kochi lies at the sea level, and the city along with the suburbs span an area of around 440 km². The city has a seacoast of about 30 miles. [1] Willingdon Island is the largest Indian artificial island, created by dredging the Vembanad Lake under the direction of Lord Willingdon. [2] The city has a rich network of backwaters, which has been declared as National Waterways by the Central Government. [3]

Soil and rock

Kochi's soil consists mainly of recent sediments (Alluvium, Teri’s, Brown sands etc.). Hydromorphic saline soils are also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters. The major rock types are Archaean-basic dykes, Charnockites and Gneisses.

Flora

Climate

MonthTemp(°C)Rain(cm)Wind(km/h)Dew Point(°C)
Jan
24
0.9
12
20
Feb
28
1
12
22
Mar
28
1.9
23
14
Apr
29
5.1
24
14
May
28
12.5
25
14
Jun
26
22.3
24
12
Jul
26
20.6
23
12
Aug
26
13.4
23
12
Sep
27
9.8
23
12
Oct
27
12.5
23
9
Nov
27
6.3
23
9
Dec
27
1.9
21
9
Note: Values given are the average over each month. [4]

Kochi’s climate is generally tropical, with no harsh extremities. Under Köppen's climate classification, the city features a tropical monsoon climate. Surface temperatures range between 2035 °C (6895 °F). The current record high temperature is 38 °C; the lowest is 17 °C. Heavy rains accompanied by thunder are common from June to September due to the South-West monsoon. Light showers are experienced from October to December due to the North-West monsoon. The average annual rainfall is about 350 cm with an average 132 rainy days annually; the bulk of the rainfall stems from the South-West monsoon. The winds are moderate, with slight increase during summer and the monsoon seasons.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the region is predominantly tropical. Common vegetation in the region include Launaea , Ipomoea , Portulaca , Hydrocotyle , Spinifex , Lippia , Moniera , Cynodon , Digitaria , Cyperus etc. Mangroove formations are also common. Though much of the city is urbanised, the city retains an ecologically sensitive area right at its centre the Mangalavanam. Mangalavanam is a nesting ground for a vast variety of migratory birds and supports many varieties of mangroves. This rare ecosystem in the heart of the city has helped mitigate Kochi’s pollution problems. The Mangalavanam is also a protected bird sanctuary.

The backwaters also harbour many different types of fishes. Aquatic mammals like dolphins are aplenty in the backwaters of Kochi.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kochi</span> Metropolis in Kerala, India

Kochi, also known as Cochin is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala and is commonly referred to as Ernakulam. Kochi is the most densely populated city in Kerala. As of 2011, it has a corporation limit population of 677,381 within an area of 94.88 km2 and a total urban population of more than of 2.1 million within an area of 440 km2, making it the largest and the most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. Kochi city is also part of the Greater Cochin region and is classified as a Tier-II city by the Government of India. The civic body that governs the city is the Kochi Municipal Corporation, which was constituted in the year 1967, and the statutory bodies that oversee its development are the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA). The current metropolitan limits of Kochi include the mainland Ernakulam, Fort Kochi, the suburbs of Edapally, Kalamassery, Aluva and Kakkanad to the northeast; Tripunithura to the southeast; and a group of islands closely scattered in the Vembanad Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernakulam district</span> District in Kerala, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vembanad</span> Lake in Kerala, India

Vembanad is the longest lake in India, as well as the largest lake in the state of Kerala. The lake has an area of 230 square kilometers and a maximum length of 96.5 km. Spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known as Vembanadu Lake in Kottayam, Vaikom, Changanassery, Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, Punnappra, Kuttanadu and Kochi Lake in Kochi. Several groups of small islands including Vypin, Mulavukad, Maradu, Udayamperoor, Vallarpadam, Willingdon Island are located in the Kochi Lake portion. Kochi Port is built around the Willingdon Island and the Vallarpadam island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arayankavu</span> Town in Kerala, India

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Willingdon Island is the largest artificial island in India, which forms part of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Much of the present Willingdon Island was claimed from the Lake of Kochi, filling in dredged soil around a previously existing, but tiny, natural island. Willingdon Island is significant as the home for the Port of Kochi as well as the Kochi Naval Base, the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy, Plant Quarantine station, Custom House Cochin and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, a constituent unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vypin</span> Suburban Island in Kochi

Vypin is one of the group of islands that form part of the city of Kochi (Cochin), in the Indian state of Kerala. Vypin forms a barrier island which lies between the Arabian Sea in the west and the Cochin backwaters formed by the various distributaries of Periyar river, in the east. The northernmost end of the island lies on the estuary of the Periyar river in Muziris (Kodungallur), and the southernmost end in the mouth of the Cochin Backwaters in Kalamukku near Fort Vypin. The island is about 27 kilometres (17 mi) long and is connected to mainland Kochi by a series of bridges known as the Goshree bridges, which start at Kalamukku in Vypin, touch other two islands and then finish at Marine Drive covering a total distance of around three km (1.9 mi). Vypin is 58th most densely populated islands in the world. Njarakkal is one of the most densely populated locations within Vypin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoppumpady</span> Neighbourhood in Ernakulam, Kerala, India

Thoppumpady is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. It connects the tourist destinations Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Palluruthy and Willingdon Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernakulam</span> Downtown of Kochi city in India

Ernakulam is the Central Business District of the city of Kochi in Kerala, India and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Many major establishments, including the Kerala High Court, the office of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and the Cochin Shipyard are situated here.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cochin Port</span> A major port in India

Cochin Port or Kochi Port is a major port on the Arabian Sea – Laccadive Sea – Indian Ocean sea-route in the city of Kochi and is one of the largest ports in India. It is also the first transshipment port in India. The port lies on two islands in the Lake of Kochi: Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam, towards the Fort Kochi river mouth opening onto the Laccadive Sea. The International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), part of the Cochin Port, is the largest container transshipment facility in India.

Sir Robert Bristow was a British harbour engineer best known for his contributions to the development of the port of Kochi (Cochin) in Kerala, India and is regarded as the architect of modern Kochi port. Bristow recounted his experiences in his book Cochin Saga, which is considered an important source of historiography of Kerala. He is also noted for his initiatives in founding the Lotus Club, the first inter-racial club in Kochi. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kochi Municipal Corporation</span> Local civic body in Kochi, Kerala, India

The Kochi Municipal Corporation is the municipal corporation that manages the Indian city of Kochi in the state of Kerala. Municipal Corporation mechanism in India was introduced during British Rule with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1762. The Corporation manages 94.88 km2 of Kochi city and has a population of 677,381 within that area. It is the most densely populated city corporation in the state. Kochi Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Kochi</span> Brief history of Kochi

Kochi is a city located in the Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala about 200 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of South India</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattancherry Bridge</span> Bridge across Vembanad lake

Mattancherry BOT Bridge, also known as Thoppumpady Bridge is a bridge in Kochi, Kerala, India. It connects the Kochi's western mainland to Willingdon Island. The new bridge was constructed in 1998; succeeding the old bridge of the same name, which is now known as the Old Cochin Harbour Bridge, built in 1940. The old bridge, which is a landmark of Kochi is now preserved as a heritage monument and carries only two and three wheelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumbalangi</span> Place in Kerala, India

Kumbalangi is an island village in the outskirts of Kochi city in the state of Kerala, India. Situated amidst backwaters, around 12 km (7.5 mi) from the city center, Kumbalangi is a major tourist attraction and is famous for its Chinese fishing nets. It is also known among the tourists for the occurrence of the natural phenomenon known as sea sparkle or bioluminescence in the backwaters at Kumbalangi, which is locally known as Kavaru. It is the first eco-tourism village in India, according to the government agency Kerala Tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Waterway 3</span> National waterway of India

The West Coast Canal or National Waterway No 3 is a 205 km (127 mi) long inland navigational route located in Kerala, India, which runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. It was declared a National Waterway in 1993. In addition to the main stretch, Champakara and Udyogmandal canals are navigable and connect the industrial centers of Kochi to Kochi port Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Shipping is coordinating the task for developing, monitoring and administering national waterways. It is the first National Waterway in the country with 24-hour navigation facilities along the entire stretch. It has been extended to Kozhikode by the National Waterways Act, 2016. The National Waterway 3 mainly passes through the previous Thiruvananthapuram–Shoranur canal.

This is a list of areas and neighbourhoods in Cochin by region.

Pallithode is a village in the Alappuzha district, in the state of Kerala, India, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Pallithode is within the Gram Panchayat of Kuthiathode, Pattanakad Block, of Cherthala Taluk. During the 20th century, more than half of its width was eroded away by the action of river backwaters and the sea. The village is very densely populated and has a wet, maritime tropical climate. It has an important role in the fishing industry.

References

  1. "Geography of Kochi". Corporation of Kochi. Archived from the original on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
  2. "The Cochin Saga". Robert Charles Bristow employed to develop Kochi port. Corporation of Kochi. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
  3. "National Waterway-3 plagued by hurdles". Corporation of Kochi. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
  4. "Historical weather for Kochi". weatherbase. Retrieved 23 May 2006.

Coordinates: 9°58′0″N76°14′0″E / 9.96667°N 76.23333°E / 9.96667; 76.23333