GARO HILLS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Geological Survey of India (GSI) explorers uncovered ancient fossils in Tolegre, South Garo Hills of Meghalaya, marking a significant breakthrough.

Garo Hills

• Location: Western Meghalaya state, northeastern India.
• Geographical Features

oEco-region: Part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests eco-region, situated near the Indo-Bangladesh border.

oPatkai Hill Range: Garo Hills are part of the Patkai hill range, extending across the Indo-Myanmar border.

oDrainage and Climate: The region is drained by various tributaries of the Brahmaputra River and experiences exceptionally high rainfall.

• Biodiversity and Resources: Garo Hills is densely forested, with notable flora such as rice, cotton, sal (genus Shorea), bamboo, and lac.

oIt is rich in natural resources including coal, limestone, and petroleum.

• Mountain Ranges: Arabella range and Tura range traverse Garo Hills, forming the Balpakram valley..
• Highest Point: Nokrek Peak, reaching 1412 m, covered in dense forests.
• National Park: Nokrek National Park, situated in the western part of Garo Hills, safeguards a remarkably diverse plant and animal ecosystem.
• Recognition: Designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009.