Geography of Maharashtra

Maharashtra with a total area of 307,713 km2 (118,809 sq mi), is the third-largest state by area in

terms of land area and constitutes 9.36 per cent of India's total geographical area. The State lies
between 15°35' N to 22°02' N latitude and 72°36' E to 80°54' E longitude. It occupies
the western and central part of the country and has a coastline stretching 840 kilometres [77] along
the Arabian Sea.[78] The dominant physical feature of the state is its plateau character, which is
separated from the Konkan coastline by the mountain range of the Western Ghats, which runs
parallel to the coast from north to south.The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Range,
has an average elevation of 1,200 metres (4,000 ft); its slopes gently descending towards the
east and southeast.[79] The Western Ghats (or the Sahyadri Mountain range) provide a physical
barrier to the state on the west, while the Satpura Hills along the north and Bhamragad-Chiroli-
Gaikhuri ranges on the east serve as its natural borders. [80] This state's expansion from North to
South is 700 km and East to West is 800 km. To the west of these hills lie the Konkan coastal
plains, 50–80 kilometres in width. To the east of the Ghats lies the flat Deccan Plateau. The main
rivers of the state are the Krishna, and its tributary, Bhima, the Godavari, and its main
tributaries, Manjara, and Wardha-Wainganga and the Tapi, and its tributary Purna.[78]
[81]
 Maharashtra is divided into five geographic regions. Konkan is the western coastal region,
between the Western Ghats and the sea.[82] Khandesh is the north region lying in the valley of the
Tapti, Purna river.[81] Nashik, Malegaon Jalgaon, Dhule and Bhusawal are the major cities of this
region.[83] Desh is in the center of the state.[84] Marathwada, which was a part of the princely state
of Hyderabad until 1956, is located in the southeastern part of the state. [78][85] Aurangabad
and Nanded are the main cities of the region. [86] Vidarbha is the easternmost region of the state,
formerly part of the Central Provinces and Berar.[87]
The state has limited area under irrigation, low natural fertility of soils, and large areas prone to
recurrent drought. Due to this the agricultural productivity of Maharashtra is generally low as
compared to the national averages of various crops. Maharashtra has been divided in to nine
agro-climatic zones on the basis of annual rainfall soil types, vegetation and cropaing pattern.