379
20.2.14 Wetlands of Arunachal
Pradesh
The province of Arunachal Pradesh (formerly
known as the North-East Frontier Agency special territory or NEFA), lying between 91° 32′ E
and 97° 26′ E and 26° 37′ and 29° 28′ N, is a
signifi cant province in the northeastern region of
India. Arunachal Pradesh (ArP) borders Assam
to the south and Nagaland to the southeast.
Myanmar lies to its east, Bhutan towards the
west and Tibet (China) towards north. Itanagar is
the capital of the state. ArP is known as ‘land of
the rising sun’.
ArP is entirely on the Eurasian Plate, much of
which is covered by the Himalayas. However,
parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are covered
by the Patkai hills. Kangto, Nyegi Kangsang, the
main Gorichen peak and the eastern Gorichen
peak are some of the highest peaks in this region
of the Himalayas. The Himalayan ranges which
extend up to the eastern Arunachal separate it
from China.
The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with
elevation. Areas that are at a very high elevation
in the Upper Himalayas close to the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate, while it is
temperate in the Middle Himalayas. On the other
hand, the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation
generally experience a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winter.
However, the province receives a rainfall of
2,000–4,100 mm annually, mostly during May to
September. ArP has c 61,000 km
2 of forests. The
mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine,
temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fi r and juniper; sal
and teak; etc. The famous tourist spots are the
Namdapha tiger project in Changlang District,
Sela Lake near to Bomdila, etc.
Agriculture is said to be the primary driver of
the economy. ‘Jhum’ (shifting cultivation), which
used to be widely practised amongst the tribals,
is, perhaps, little less practised today in ArP.
Forest products are one of the most signifi cant
sectors of the economy. Horticulture is also
widely practised in ArP.
20.2.14.1 Ganga Lake
The Ganga Lake (Plate 20.63 ), lying at 600 m
MSL, between 92°and 94° N and 27° and 29° E,
is a perennial lentic body situated about 7 km
away from the capital city of Itanagar. It is popularly called ‘Gekar Sinyi’ meaning ‘confi ned
Plate 20.63 Ganga Lake
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)
20.2.14 Wetlands of Arunachal
Pradesh
The province of Arunachal Pradesh (formerly
known as the North-East Frontier Agency special territory or NEFA), lying between 91° 32′ E
and 97° 26′ E and 26° 37′ and 29° 28′ N, is a
signifi cant province in the northeastern region of
India. Arunachal Pradesh (ArP) borders Assam
to the south and Nagaland to the southeast.
Myanmar lies to its east, Bhutan towards the
west and Tibet (China) towards north. Itanagar is
the capital of the state. ArP is known as ‘land of
the rising sun’.
ArP is entirely on the Eurasian Plate, much of
which is covered by the Himalayas. However,
parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are covered
by the Patkai hills. Kangto, Nyegi Kangsang, the
main Gorichen peak and the eastern Gorichen
peak are some of the highest peaks in this region
of the Himalayas. The Himalayan ranges which
extend up to the eastern Arunachal separate it
from China.
The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with
elevation. Areas that are at a very high elevation
in the Upper Himalayas close to the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate, while it is
temperate in the Middle Himalayas. On the other
hand, the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation
generally experience a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winter.
However, the province receives a rainfall of
2,000–4,100 mm annually, mostly during May to
September. ArP has c 61,000 km
2 of forests. The
mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine,
temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fi r and juniper; sal
and teak; etc. The famous tourist spots are the
Namdapha tiger project in Changlang District,
Sela Lake near to Bomdila, etc.
Agriculture is said to be the primary driver of
the economy. ‘Jhum’ (shifting cultivation), which
used to be widely practised amongst the tribals,
is, perhaps, little less practised today in ArP.
Forest products are one of the most signifi cant
sectors of the economy. Horticulture is also
widely practised in ArP.
20.2.14.1 Ganga Lake
The Ganga Lake (Plate 20.63 ), lying at 600 m
MSL, between 92°and 94° N and 27° and 29° E,
is a perennial lentic body situated about 7 km
away from the capital city of Itanagar. It is popularly called ‘Gekar Sinyi’ meaning ‘confi ned
Plate 20.63 Ganga Lake
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)