Geography of Assam

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Assam located between

Latitude-- 22.19N to 28.16 N

Longitude— 89.42 E to 96.30E

Length of interstate boundaries

Assam-Meghalaya - 884.9 Km (longest)
Assam-Arunachal Pradesh - 804.1 Km
Assam-Nagaland - 512.1 Km
Assam-Manipur - 204.1 Km
Assam-Mizoram - 164.6 Km
Assam-West Bengal - 127.0 Km
Assam-Tripura - 46.3 Km (Shortest)
Neighbouring countries– Bhutan
and Bangladesh

Neighbouring States– Arunachal

Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya,
West Bengal

Length of International Boundary

Indo-Bangla - 267.5 KM
Indo-Bhutan - 265.8 KM
Total - 533.3 KM
 ASSAM
• Area– 78,438 sq km
• According to area- 16th largest state of India
• According to population– 15th largest state of India
• It occupies 2.39% of India’s total landmass
• Acc. to 2011 census, population is 3.12 cr
• 2.58% of total Indian population is in Assam
• Urban population- 14.10% ; Rural population– 85.90%
• Population density– 398 per sq km
• Literacy rate- 72.19%
 State Symbols
Ø State Song -- O’ Mur Apunar Dex
Ø State Motto -- Joi Aai Axom
Ø State Festival -- Bihu
Ø State Dance -- Bihu nas
Ø State Flower -- Foxtail Orchids /Kopou phul/
Ø Rhynchostylis retusa
Ø State Tree--Dipterocarpus macrocarpus/ Hollong
Ø State Animal-- One-horned rhinoceros/ Gor/
Rhinoceros Unicornis
Ø State Bird--White-winged wood duck/ Deo haah/
Asarcornis scutulata
 Divisions and districts
Regional divisions -- Upper Assam, North Assam, Middle Assam, Lower Assam and
Barak Valley
Ø No of districts– 35
Ø 3 territorial autonomous councils– Bodoland Territorial Council, Dima Hasao
Autonomous District Council & Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council.
Ø Also Rabha Hasong, Mising, Tiwa, Deori, Thengal Kachari, Sonowal Kachari
Autonomous Council– Statutory Autonomous Councils
Ø 35th district was formed on 23rd January, 2022– Tamulpur
Ø 34th – Bajali formed on 12th January, 2021
Ø 33rd – Majuli formed on 8th September, 2016
Ø On 15th August 2015– Biswanath, Charaideo, Hojai, South Salmara Mankachar,
West Karbi Anglong districts were formed.
*** In January, 2023 ,Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa
Sarmah announced that the government has decided to
merge 4 districts of Assam viz,
• Biswanath with Sonitpur
• Hojai with Nagaon
• Bajali with Barpeta
• Tamulpur with Baksa
So due to this decision the no. of districts of Assam has
reduced to 31 districts
Red- Upper Assam districts
Purple –Middle Assam
Green – lower Assam
Yellow- Central Assam
Maroon – Barak Valley
• Largest district– Karbi Anglong
• Second largest district– Dima Hasao
• Smallest District– Bajali
(Since Bajali is merged with Barpeta, now it is South Salmara Mankachar)
• District with highest population- Nagaon
• District with lowest population- Dima Hasao
• District with highest population density- Kamrup Metropolitan
• District with lowest population density- Dima Hasao

• (**According to 2011 census, statistics may change after the next census)
Homework!!
Try to remember the names
of the districts in the blank
map!
Assam can be broadly divided into three geographical divisions …
§ Brahmaputra valley
§Karbi Plateau and North Cachar (Barail) hills
§Barak Valley

Climate of Assam is typically Tropical Monsoon Rainforest Climate with high

humidity and high rainfall
Rainfall caused due to South West Monsoon in summer and North East
Monsoon during winter
Average rainfall 200 cm
 Hills of Northeast
Abor hills
Miri hills

Manipur hills
 Mountains and hills
• Purvanchal (northeastern extension of Himalayas) range includes-- Patkai, Barail
Range, Mizo and Naga Hills.
• Barail range– tertiary mountain range lies in Dima Hasao/ highest mountains in
Assam
• Barail Range highest peak– Laike peak (1959m) , other peaks are Theipibung,
Tumjang, Hamplopet , Hemeolowa, Mahadeo
• Garo, Khasi, Jayantia hills- part of Shillong or Meghalaya plateau
• Mikir hills of Assam are an extension of Karbi Plateau (part of Shillong Plateau)
• Mikir Hills is the oldest landform in Assam and are located to the south of
the Kaziranga National Park, Assam
• Highest peak in Karbi Plateau– Singhasan (1360m)/ Highest peak in Mikir range
– Dambuchko (1363m).
 Types of Soil in Assam
Four types of soil found
ü Alluvial– older (bhangar)
& younger (khadar)
Alluvial soil is most fertile
ü Piedmont– Bhabar &
Tarai Blue- Younger
ü Hilly– red loamy & red Alluvial
sandy Green – Older
Alluvial
ü Lateritic soil Yellow- Lateritic &
Hilly
Orange- Piedmont
Minerals found in Assam
• Crude Oil& Natural Gas- Digboi,
Duliajan, Naharkatiya, Moran,
Lakwa
• 4 refineries – Digboi, Guwahati,
Numaligarh, Bongaigaon

• Coal- Borhat, Jeypore, Nazira,

Margherita, Makum, Ledo, Karbi
Anglong, Dima Hasao
ü Makum Coal field, Dilli Jeypore
Coalfield

• Limestone– Karbi Anglong and

Dima Hasao
 Minor minerals
• China clay– Deopani, Sheelvata, Chilonijan
• Feldspar– Goalpara, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong
• Granite- Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Nagaon, Morigaon, Karbi Anglong
• Sillimanite, refractory clay– Karbi Anglong
• Quartzite– Nagaon
• White Clay– Baksa
• Copper- Barduar, Mahamaya hills in Goalpara.
 BRAHMAPUTRA
Ø Antecedent, Transboundary river with
braided channel–flows through Tibet, India,
Bangladesh
Ø Length- 3969km
Ø In India- 916 km ; In Assam- 640 km
Ø 15th longest river in the world
Ø 7th longest in India
Ø Deepest river in India- almost 380 ft at
some points.
Ø 9th largest by discharge
Ø 6th longest in Asia
Ø Source– Angsi Glacier in Tibet, southeast of Mt. Kailash and
Mansarovar lake
Ø Originates as a spring named Tamchuk Khambab
Ø In Tibet name is Yarlung Tsangpo
Ø Enters India at Bishing, Arunachal Pradesh after taking sharp
turn at NamchaBarwa
Ø In ArunachalPradesh hills name is Siang, in AP plains name is
Dihang
Ø I n A s s a m , j o i ne d b y D i b a n g a n d L o h i t t h e n b e co m e s
Brahmaputra or Luit.
Ø Kachari name -Dilao, Bodo name- Burlung buthur)
Ø Ancient name– Lauhitya
Ø Also called Red River/ male river
• Majuli- largest river island in the world.
Formed between Kherkutia suti in North &
Brahmaputra in South
• Umananda/ Peacock Island– smallest river
island in world
• Enters Bangladesh, it is joined by river
Teesta and becomes Jamuna.
• Then joined by river Ganga (known as
Padma) and together called Padma
• and then Padma joins river Barak (known
as Surma) and together called Meghna
• Finally drains into Bay of Bengal as
Meghna.
 Tributaries of Brahmaputra
Right Bank tributaries…
v Subansiri – originates in Tibet therefore trans Himalayan or trans boundary river
v Subansiri is the largest tributary of Brahmaputra , it joins Brahmaputra at
Jamurighat.
v Ranganadi (lakhimpur) is tributary of Subansiri i.e sub tributary of Brahmaputra
v Jiadhal (Dhemaji){Jiadhal called Kumotiya from Gogamukh} – tributary of
Subansiri. Jiadhal called Sorrow of Dhemaji
v Kameng – originates in Arunachal P. Known as Jia Bhoroli in Assam (Sonitpur)
v Lokhaitora– divides into Baralia then joins with river Suklai to form Barnadi or
Puthimari -- originates in Bhutan
 Right Bank tributaries…

vManas- originates in Bhutan / trans Himalayan river/ joins Brahmaputra at

Jogighopa
v Ai– tributary of Manas
vBeki– originates in Bhutan, joins Chawulkhua river, one stream flows into
Manas another into the Brahmaputra. then again
vPagladiya— origin Bhutan, flows through Baksa, Nalbari
vChampabati- origin Bhutan/ flows through Kokrajhar
vSankosh – originates in Bhutan, boundary between Assam and Bengal (also
called Gadadhar and Gangadhar)
vTeesta – originates in North Sikkim Himalayas/ westernmost tributary of
Brahmaputra/ flows through West Bengal & joins Brahmaputra in Bangladesh
 Left bank tributaries...

ü Dibang– originates in Arunachal Pradesh

ü Lohit– originates in Tibet (called Zayu river) ; carries laterite soil
ü Burhi Dihing – originates in AP Patkai hills, formed by 2 rivers-
Namphuk & Namchik/ joins Brahmaputra at Dihingmukh
ü Disang- originates in AP, joins Brahmaputra at Disangmukh
ü Dikhou– originates in Nagaland, Zunheboto/ flows through Sibsagar/
joins Brahmaputra at Dikhoumukh
ü Jaanji– originates in Nagaland, Mokochong / border between Jorhat &
Sibsagar
ü Bhugdoi-- origin Nagaland Naga hills, flows through Jorhat / man made
river (dug during Ahom king Kamaleswar Singha’s reign)
 Left bank tributaries....

ü Kakodonga- origin Nagaland Naga hills, boundary between Jorhat &

Golaghat
ü Dhansiri – origin Nagaland,Laisang peak/ flows through Golaghat
ü Kollong– Nagaon (originates and ends in Brahmaputra)
ü Kopili – originates in Meghalaya, joins Brahmaputra in Kopilimukh, it is
largest South bank tributary
ü Digaru– tributaryof Kopiliriver
ü Dudhnoi– originates in Meghalaya,flows through Goalpara
ü Krishnai– tributaryofDudhnoi
ü Jinjiram- originates in meghalaya
 Barak river
• Originates in Manipur (known as
Vourei) then flows through Nagaland,
Mizoram, Assam and finally
Bangladesh at Bhanga Bazar.
• Source Manipur hills (Barail Range),
Liyai Khullen village in Manipur/
Mukru river
• Total length— 900 km
• 524km in India //// 225km in
Assam
• National Waterway 6
• (Brahmaputra is National Waterway 2)
• Rich in aquatic Biodiversity
Right bank tributaries
• Jiri, Chiri, Modhura, Jatinga,
Marang
left bank tributary
• river Sonai, Ghagra,
Dhaleswari/ Tlawng, Longai,
Katakhal, Singla
q Divides into Surma and
Kushiyara river in Bangladesh
Bridges on Brahmaputra..
1.SARAIGHAT BRIDGE
Ø1.492 km long
Connects Jalukbari & Amingaon ØRail bridge from23rd
Ø Rail cum road bridge Sept, 1962
Ø Inagurated by then ØRoad bridge from 7th
June, 1963
Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru
Ø Saraighat Bridge is the oldest river bridge of Assam.

2. KOLIA BHOMORA SETU

• 3.015 Km long
üConnects Tezpur (SonitpurDistrict) Started from 14th
April, 1987
& Kalibor (Nagaon District)
üInagurated by then PM Rajiv Gandhi
 3. NARANARAYAN SETU
üConnects • 2.284 Km long
Jogighopa (Bongaigaon) • From 15th April, 1998

& Pancharatna (Goalpara)

üInagurated by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

4.NEW SARAIGHAT BRIDGE

• 1.49 Km long
ØConnects • From 28th January, 2017

Pandu (Guwahati) & Amingaon (Kamrup Rural)

ØInagurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
 5. BOGIBEEL BRIDGE
4.94 KM
25th December, 2018

Ø Connects Dhemaji & Dibrugarh

Ø It is the India longest rail cum road bridge
Ø Asia’s 2nd longest rail cum road bridge
Ø This bridge can withstand earthquakes of magnitude upto 7 on the
Richter scale.
Ø Inagurated by PM Narendra Modi
 DHOLA SADIYA BRIDGE
9.15 Km Dr. BHUPEN HAZARIKA SETU
26th May, 2017

Ø It is on the Lohit River

Ø longest bridge in India.
Ø Connects Dhola Village & Sadiya Village (Tinsukia
district)
Ø It can withstand 60 tonnes of weight including tanks
Ø Inagurated by PM Narendra Modi & Nitin Gadkari
 Naamdang Stone Bridge
• Constructed in1703 during reign of Ahom king Rudra
Singha
• Across Namdang river, a tributary of Dikhou
• Made from a single piece of rock and 60 m long

Upcoming Bridges in Assam 5 longest bridge in India

• Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge (19km)
• Numaligarh-Gohpur Bridge(tunnel under
Brahmaputra) {maybe cancelled}
• Bhomoraguri-Tezpur Bridge
• Majuli-Nematighat Bridge
• Disangmukh-Tekeliphuta Bridge
• Palashbai- Sualkuchi
• Dhola Sadiya (9.1 km)
• Dibang River Bridge(6.2 km)
• Mahatma Gandhi Setu (5.7 km)
• Bandra Worli Sea Link (5.6 km)
• Bogibeel Bridge (4.9 km)
v Kachi- Dargah Bidupur Ganga
Bridge (9.7km) {under construction}
 Difference between National
Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Park Wildlife Sanctuary
• Human activities allowed
• Human activities not allowed
• Main aim is to protect a
• Protects the whole ecosystem
particular species
• Boundaries fixed
• No fixed boundaries
• More restrictions
• Lesser restriction

BIOSPHERE RESERVE
•Biosphere Reserves are protected areas
for conservation of plants & animals.
•Created to maintain a cordial relation
between man & environment
•Has Three zones
 Kaziranga National Park
Spread across Golaghat , Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur & Biswanath districts
• Area was 429.96 Sq. Km initially when it was formed.
• After that there has been 10 additions of new areas .Now area is1090 sq km
vFamous for one horned Rhinocerous (2613 rhinos as per a
survey conducted in 2022) Between 1985- 1999 Six
v1905– notified as reserve forest additions to Kaziranga
vFirst established in 1908 as a reserved forest, National Park notified…
1st addition (Burapahar)
vGame forest in (1916) 43.7 sq km
vWildlife Sanctuary in 1950 10th addition in Nov, 2021
vNational Park in 1974. 4.52 km added =1090 sq
vUNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. km
vTiger reserve in 2006 (highest density in NE)
vBig Five of Kaziranga – Indian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger,
One horned Rhinocerous, Eastern Swamp deer, Wild Buffallo
 Manas National Park
ü Area - 500sq km initially then 350 sq km added in
2016, now 850 sq km
ü Located in Chirang & Baksa district
ü Located in the Himalayan foothill bhabar region
ü Became a sanctuary since 1928
ü Became a Tiger Reserve in 1973,
ü Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
ü a Biosphere Reserve in 1989
ü It was declared as a National Park in 1990
ü Hispid Hare and Pygmy Hog found.
 Nameri National Park
• Area is 212 sq km
• Located in Sonitpur district between Rivers Jia Bhoroli & Bor Dikorai
• Reserve forest in 1978
• Nameri Sanctuary in 1985
• Tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1999
• Nameri used to be part of the Naduar Reserve Forest before becoming a
National Park in 15 November, 1998
• The most secure population of the endangered species White-winged wood
duck is found here.
 Orang National Park
• Area 79 sq km initially. In August 2022 area has been increased to 299.14
sq km
• Udalguri, Darrang & Sonitpur district
• Renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.
• In 1915, Orang forest was declared a Game Reserve.
• Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985
• National Park in 1999.
• The Pachnoi river and the Dhansiri rivers (north Dhansiri) flow along the
eastern and western boundaries.
• Called “mini Kaziranga”
 Dibru- Saikhowa National Park
Ø Located in Tinsukia & Dibrugarh districts
Ø Area of Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve is 765 sq km
Ø Area of Dibru Saikhowa National Park is 340 sq km
Ø Bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and the Dibru
river in the south.
Ø Became a National park in 1999
Ø Biosphere reserve in 1997
Ø Kekjori tree found here
Ø Feral horses found here
Ø Deohah also found.
 Raimona National Park
Ø Located in Kokrajhar (Gossaigaon region) Area of 422sq km.
Ø Declared on 5th June 2021
Ø betweenSankosh & Saralbhanga river
Ø Golden langur found here.

Dihing Patkai National Park

üLocated in Dibrugarh & Tinsukia districts with area of 231.65sq km

üDeclared on 9th June,2021
üwildlife sanctuary on 2004
üWhite winged wood duck, Orchids, various species of butterflies etc found
üCalled “Amazon of the east”
 Wildlife Sanctuaries of Assam-- 17
Name of Wildlife Established Area Location Important points
Sanctuary Year (in sq
km)

1952 6.05 Karbi Anglong Hot water spring

Garampani WLS --Orchids
1972 70.14 Nagaon Rhino,
Buffalo,tiger,
Lawkhowa WLS
leopard
1987 38.81 Morigaon Rhino density
Pobitora WLS highest (108)
1980 26.22 Baksa & Pygmy Hog &
Barnadi WLS Udalguri Hispid hare
Name Established Area Location Important points
of Wildlife Year
Sanctuary
Golden Langur
Kokrajhar &
Chakrashila 1994 45.56
Dhubri
WLS
Burachapori Bengal Florican
1995 44.06 Sonitpur
WLS
Pani-Dihing Bird 267 species of
1996 33.93 Sivsagar
WLS bird
Hollongapar Hoolock Gibbons
1997 20.98 Jorhat
Gibbon WLS
Sonai Rupai Tiger,deohah
1998 175 Sonitpur
WLS
Name of Established Area (in Location Important
Wildlife year sq km) points
Sanctuary

Bherjan-
Bukajan- 1999 7.22 Tinsukia Macaques
Padumoni WLS

East Karbi
2000 221.81 Karbi Anglong
Anglong WLS

Nambor WLS 2000 37 Karbi Anglong

Nambor
2003 97.15 Golaghat
Doigrung WLS
Name of Wildlife Established Area (in sq km) Location Important
Sanctuary year points

Marat Longri Karbi

2003 451
WLS Anglong

Amchang WLS 2004 78.64 Guwahati

Barail WLS 2004 326.25 Cachar

Only Ramsar
Deepor Beel 41.4(area of WLS) site in
1989 Guwahati Assam
WLS 4.14 (area of beel)
 Proposed Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Bordoibam Bilmukh Wildlife Sanctuary– Dhemaji & Lakhimpur // mainly
for conservation of Whistling Teal bird

• North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary

• Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary– Cachar

Two Biosphere Reserves in Assam

• Manas Biosphere Reserve--Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri districts
• Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve--Dibrugarh & Tinsukia districts
 4 Tiger reserves of Assam
Ø Manas Tiger Reserve--Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri
Ø Nameri Tiger Reserve--Sonitpur
Ø Kaziranga Tiger Reserve--Nagaon, Golaghat, Sonitpur
Ø Orang Tiger Reserve – Darrang, Sonitpur, Udalguri
5 Elephant reserves of Assam
Ø Chirang-Ripu ER --Kokrajhar, Chirang,Baksa, Udalguri
Ø Sonitpur ER-- Sonitpur
Ø Dining Patkai ER -- Dibrugarh & Tinsukia
Ø Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER --Sonitpur,Nagoan, Golaghat, & Karbi Anglong
Ø Dhansiri-Lumgding ER-- Karbi Anglong, Nagoan & N.C.Hills
ü (India has highest population of tigers in the world. There are 53 tiger
reserves in India)
• Important Bird Area in Assam-- 46
Ø Ramsar site —Deeporbeel
Ø (4 Ramsar sites in Northeast- Deepor beel in Assam, Loktak
Lake in Manipur, Rudrasagar Lake in Tripura, Pala wetlands in
Mizoram)
• Assam ranks 3rd in forest cover
• 34.21% of Assam’s total land
• Karbi Anglong– district with highest forest cover
• Wildlife Protection Act –1972
• Project Tiger launched in – 1973
• Project Elephant -- 1992
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