My State Andhra Pradesh

Physiography
Andhra Pradesh is the fifth largest State in the Indian union having an area of
2,75,909 sq.km, and a population of about 7,57,27,541 (2001). It is the biggest
among the South Indian States both in area and population. It is bounded by Tamil
nadu in the south, Orissa in the north-east, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh in the north,
eastern Maharastra and Karnataka in the west and by the Bay of Bengal in the east.
Andhra Pradesh forms the major link between the north and the south of India. The
northern area of Andhra Pradesh is mountainous. The highest peak Mahendragiri
rises 1500 m (4920 ft.) above the sea level. The climate is generally hot and humid.
Annual rainfall is 125 cm. The Krishna and the Godavari are the major river systems
in the State. It has a long coastline of about 960 kms, which contains the major port
of Vishakapatnam, which, incidentally, are the head quarters of the Eastern
Command of the Indian navy and also the country’s only submarine base.

The twenty-three districts of the State are generally divided into three geographical
regions known as the Circars of Costal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telengana. The first
two regions were formally part of the Madras presidency until 1 October 1953 when
they were detached from it, to form a separate State of Andhra. Telengana was a part
of the erstwhile State of Hyderabad.

On 1 st November 1956 Hyderabad State was trifurcated and Telengana was merged
with Andhra State to form present state of Andhra Pradesh with the city of Hyderabad
as its capital. Telugu is the predominant language of the state. It is spoken by about
88 per cent of the State’s population. The next important language is Urdu, which is
spoken by 7 per cent of the population. About 88 per cent of the State's population is
Hindus, Muslims and Christians constitute about 7 per cent and 4 per cent
respectively. Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsees together constitute about 1 per cent.

DP Roy, Hyderabad, India : 9000 464673

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