Editing Karnataka (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Karnataka|Rainfall in Karnataka|List of beaches in Karnataka}}
The state has three principal geographical zones:[[File:Jog Falls 05092016.jpg|thumb|alt=Wide photo of large waterfall in mist |[[Jog Falls]], formed by Sharavathi River, are the second-highest plunge waterfalls in India.|left]]

# The coastal region of [[Karavali]] and [[Tulu Nadu]]
# The hilly [[Malenadu]] region comprising the [[Western Ghats]]
# The [[Bayaluseeme]] region comprising the plains of the [[Deccan Plateau]]

The bulk of the state is in the [[Bayalu Seeme|Bayaluseeme]] region, the northern part of which is the second-largest [[arid]] region in India.<ref name="arid">{{cite web |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1817/18170420.htm |first=Parvathi |last=Menon |title=Karnataka's agony |work=The Frontline, Volume 18 – Issue 17, 18–31 August 2001 |publisher=Frontline |access-date=4 May 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101052709/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1817/18170420.htm |archive-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> The highest point in Karnataka is the [[Mullayanagiri]] hills in [[Chikmagalur district]] which has an altitude of {{cvt|1925|m|ft|0}}. The two main river systems of the state are the [[Krishna River|Krishna]] and its tributaries, the [[Bhima River|Bhima]], [[Ghataprabha River|Ghataprabha]], [[Vedavathi River|Vedavathi]], [[Malaprabha River|Malaprabha]] and [[Tungabhadra River|Tungabhadra]] in North Karnataka, and the [[Kaveri]] and its tributaries, the [[Hemavati River|Hemavati]], [[Shimsha]], [[Arkavati]], [[Lakshmana Tirtha|Lakshmana Thirtha]] and [[Kabini River|Kabini]], in South Karnataka. Most of these rivers flow out of Karnataka eastward, reaching the sea at the [[Bay of Bengal]]. Other prominent rivers such as the [[Sharavati]] in [[Shimoga]] and [[Netravati River|Netravati]] in [[Dakshina Kannada]] flow westward to the [[Lakshadweep Sea]]. A large number of [[List of dams and reservoirs in Karnataka|dams and reservoirs]] are constructed across these rivers which richly add to the [[irrigation]] and [[hydroelectricity]] power generation capacities of the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hydropower generation doubled in 5 yrs but poor monsoon brings bad news |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/hydropower-generation-doubled-in-5-yrs-but-poor-monsoon-brings-bad-news-1233623.html |access-date=24 October 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India - Karnataka Irrigation Project (English). Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group |url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/591861468257957047/India-Karnataka-Irrigation-Project}}</ref>

Karnataka consists of four main types of geological formations<ref name="geology">{{cite web |url=http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/TR109/TR109_TVR.pdf |author1=Ramachandra T.V. |author2=Kamakshi G.|name-list-style=amp |title=Bioresource Potential of Karnataka |work=Technical Report No. 109, November 2005 |publisher=Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |access-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615001648/http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/TR109/TR109_TVR.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2007}}</ref> – the ''[[Archean]] complex'' made up of [[Dharwad]] [[schist]]s and granitic [[gneiss]]es,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Naha |first1=K. |last2=Srinivasan |first2=R. |last3=Jayaram |first3=S. |date=1990 |title=Structural evolution of the Peninsular Gneiss — an early Precambrian migmatitic complex from South India |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/BF01830449 |journal=Geologische Rundschau |language=en |volume=79 |issue=1 |pages=99–109 |doi=10.1007/BF01830449 |bibcode=1990GeoRu..79...99N |s2cid=140553127 |issn=0016-7835 |access-date=22 December 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115104718/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01830449 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Proterozoic]]'' non-fossiliferous sedimentary formations of the Kaladgi and Bhima series,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dey |first=Sukanta |date=2015 |title=Chapter 19 Geological history of the Kaladgi–Badami and Bhima basins, south India: sedimentation in a Proterozoic intracratonic setup |url=http://mem.lyellcollection.org/lookup/doi/10.1144/M43.19 |journal=Geological Society, London, Memoirs |language=en |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=283–296 |doi=10.1144/M43.19 |bibcode=2015GSLMm..43..283D |s2cid=140664449 |issn=0435-4052 |access-date=22 December 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115104725/https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.1144/M43.19 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''Deccan trappean and intertrappean deposits'' and the tertiary and recent [[laterite]]s and alluvial deposits.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Radhakrishna |first=B. P. |title=Geology of Karnataka |date=1997 |publisher=Geological Society of India |others=R. Vaidyanadhan |isbn=81-85867-08-9 |edition=2nd |location=Bangalore [India] |oclc=39707803}}</ref> Laterite cappings that are found in many districts over the [[Deccan Traps]] were formed after the cessation of volcanic activity in the early tertiary period. Eleven groups of soil orders are found in Karnataka, viz. [[Entisol]]s, [[Inceptisol]]s, [[Mollisol]]s, [[Spodosol]]s, [[Alfisol]]s, [[Ultisol]]s, [[Oxisol]]s, [[Aridisol]]s, [[Vertisol]]s, [[Andisol]]s and [[Histosol]]s.<ref name="geology" /><ref name=":1">National Informatics Centre. "Traditional Soil Groups of Karnataka and their Geographic Distribution". ''Official Website of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Karnataka''. Govt. of Karnataka. Retrieved 25 March 2007.</ref> Depending on the agricultural capability of the soil, the soil types are divided into six types, ''[[viz.]]'' red, [[Lateritic soil|lateritic]], [[Vertisol|black]], alluvio-colluvial, forest and coastal soils.<ref name=":1"/>

About {{cvt|38284|km2|sqmi|0}} of Karnataka (i.e. 16% of the state's geographic area) is covered by forests.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |title=Forest Survey of India- Karnataka |url=http://fsi.nic.in/isfr19/vol2/isfr-2019-vol-ii-karnataka.pdf |journal=Forest Survey of India |volume=2 |access-date=25 December 2021 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222042807/https://fsi.nic.in/isfr19/vol2/isfr-2019-vol-ii-karnataka.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=India. Directorate of Economics and Statistics |title=Agricultural statistics at a glance 2014 |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-945965-0 |edition=1st |location=New Delhi, India |oclc=905588033}}</ref> The forests are classified as reserved, protected, unclosed, village and private forests.<ref name=":2"/> The percentage of forested area is slightly less than the all-India average of about 23%,<ref name=":2"/> and significantly less than the 33% prescribed in the National Forest Policy.<ref name="forest_area">{{cite web |url=http://www.kar.nic.in/kla/karnataka.htm |title=Karnataka – An Introduction |work=Official website of the Karnataka legislature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807055904/http://www.kar.nic.in/kla/karnataka.htm |archive-date=7 August 2007 |access-date=4 October 2007}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Karnataka experiences four seasons. The winter in January and February is followed by summer between March and May, the [[monsoon]] season between June and September and the post-monsoon season from October till December. [[Meteorology|Meteorologically]], Karnataka is divided into three zones&nbsp;– coastal, north interior and south interior. Of these, the coastal zone receives the heaviest rainfall with an average rainfall of about {{cvt|3638.5|mm|in|0}} per annum, far in excess of the state average of {{cvt|1139|mm|in|0}}. [[Amagaon]] in [[Khanapur|Khanapura taluka]] of [[Belgaum district]] received {{cvt|10068|mm|in|0}} of rainfall in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf |title=Rainfall Statistics of Karnataka 2010 |publisher=Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Karnataka |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030241/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf |archive-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014 Kokalli in [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi taluka]] of [[Uttara Kannada district]] received {{cvt|8746|mm|in|0}} of rainfall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf |title=Rainfall Statistics of Karnataka 2014 |publisher=Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Karnataka |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311130816/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf |archive-date=11 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Agumbe]] in [[Thirthahalli|Thirthahalli taluka]] and [[Hulikal]] of [[Hosanagara taluk]]a in [[Shimoga district]] were the rainiest cities in Karnataka, situated in one of the wettest regions in the world.<ref name="second">Agumbe's receiving the second highest rainfall in India is mentioned by {{cite web |url=http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070328/2803302.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013130243/http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070328/2803302.htm |archive-date=13 October 2007 |title=Link Godavari, Krishna & Cauvery |first=Arabinda |last=Ghose |work=The Central Chronicle, dated 2007-03-28 |publisher=2007, Central Chronicle |access-date=16 May 2007}}</ref>

The state is projected to warm about {{cvt|2.0|°C-change|°F-change|lk=on|0}} by 2030. The monsoon is set to provide less rainfall. Agriculture in Karnataka is mostly rainfed as opposed to irrigated, making it highly vulnerable to expected changes in the monsoon.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=Suresh |last2=Raizada |first2=A. |last3=Biswas |first3=H. |last4=Srinivas |first4=S. |last5=Mondal |first5=Biswajit |date=2016 |title=Application of indicators for identifying climate change vulnerable areas in semi-arid regions of India |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X16303417 |journal=Ecological Indicators |series=Navigating Urban Complexity: Advancing Understanding of Urban Social – Ecological Systems for Transformation and Resilience |volume=70 |pages=507–517 |doi=10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.06.041 |bibcode=2016EcInd..70..507K |s2cid=89533768 |issn=1470-160X}}</ref> The highest recorded temperature was {{cvt|45.6|°C|°F|lk=on|0}} in [[Raichur|Raichuru district]]. The lowest recorded temperature was {{cvt|2.8|°C|°F|0}} at [[Bidar|Bidar district]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 2016 |title=Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (up to 2012) |url=https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |journal=India Meteorological Department, Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012) |page=40 |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-date=5 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Main|Wildlife of Karnataka}}
[[File:Coraciasbenghalensis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Photo of olive-winged bird with sky-blue head/vest.|The state bird, [[Indian roller]]]]
[[File:Tigers at the water hole.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Bengal tiger]]s at [[Bannerghatta National Park]] near Bengaluru]]

Karnataka is home to a variety of wildlife. It has a recorded forest area of {{cvt|38720|km2|sqmi|0}} which constitutes 12.3% of the total geographical area of the state.<ref name="forestdept">Statistics related to forests in Karnataka is provided by {{cite web |title=Statistics |url=http://karnatakaforest.gov.in/English/forest_glance/forest_at_glance.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927093340/http://karnatakaforest.gov.in/English/forest_glance/forest_at_glance.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=6 May 2007 |work=Online Webpage of the Forest Department |publisher=Government of Karnataka}}</ref> These forests support 25% of the [[elephant]] and 10% of the [[tiger]] population of India. Many regions of Karnataka are as yet unexplored, so new species of flora and fauna are found periodically. The [[Western Ghats]], a [[biodiversity hotspot]], includes the western region of Karnataka. The Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks were included in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986, a UNESCO designation.<ref name="unesco1">{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org.uy/mab/documentospdf/sevilla5.pdf |title=Seville 5, Internal Meeting of Expects, Proceedings, Pamplona, Spain, 23–27 October 2000 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=1 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609231736/http://www.unesco.org.uy/mab/documentospdf/sevilla5.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2007}}</ref> The Indian roller and the [[Indian elephant]] are recognised as the state bird and animal while [[sandalwood]] and the [[Lotus (genus)|lotus]] are recognised as the state tree and flower respectively. Karnataka has five national parks: [[Anshi National Park|Anshi]], [[Bandipur National Park|Bandipur]], [[Bannerghatta National Park|Bannerghatta]], [[Kudremukh National Park|Kudremukh]] and [[Nagarhole National Park|Nagarhole]].<ref name="book">A Walk on the Wild Side, An Information Guide to National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Karnataka, Compiled and Edited by Nima Manjrekar, Karnataka Forest Department, Wildlife Wing, October 2000</ref> It also has 27 wildlife sanctuaries of which seven are bird sanctuaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx |title=Wildlife Sanctuaries |website=ENVIS Centre on Wildlife & Protected Areas |access-date=17 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223175631/http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx |archive-date=23 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="forestdept" />

Wild animals that are found in Karnataka include the [[Elephas maximus|elephant]], the [[Panthera tigris|tiger]], the [[Panthera pardus|leopard]], the [[Bos gaurus|gaur]], the [[Cervus unicolor|sambar deer]], the [[Axis axis|chital or spotted deer]], the [[Muntiacus muntjak|muntjac]], the [[Macaca radiata|bonnet macaque]], the [[Loris tardigradus|slender loris]], the [[Paradoxurus hermaphroditus|common palm civet]], the [[Viverricula indica|small Indian civet]], the [[Melursus ursinus|sloth bear]], the [[Cuon alpinus|dhole]], the [[Hyaena hyaena|striped hyena]], the [[Vulpes bengalensis|Bengal fox]] and the [[Canis aureus|golden jackal]]. Some of the birds found here are the [[great hornbill]], the [[Malabar pied hornbill]], the [[Ceylon frogmouth]], herons, ducks, kites, eagles, [[falcon]]s, [[Old World quail|quails]], [[partridge]]s, [[lapwing]]s, [[sandpiper]]s, pigeons, doves, [[parakeet]]s, cuckoos, owls, [[nightjar]]s, [[Swift (bird)|swift]]s, [[kingfisher]]s, bee-eaters and [[munia]]s.<ref name="book" /><ref>[https://aranya.gov.in/aranyacms/(S(iplgz1hkulaidh3dcg0smd5x))/English/Wildlife.aspx Threatened Fauna of Karnataka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227032232/https://aranya.gov.in/aranyacms/(S(iplgz1hkulaidh3dcg0smd5x))/English/Wildlife.aspx |date=27 December 2021 }} By the Karnataka Forest Department</ref><ref>[https://aranya.gov.in/aranyacms/(S(iplgz1hkulaidh3dcg0smd5x))/English/EndemicFauna.aspx Endemic fauna of Karnataka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227032233/https://aranya.gov.in/aranyacms/(S(iplgz1hkulaidh3dcg0smd5x))/English/EndemicFauna.aspx |date=27 December 2021 }} By the Karnataka Forest Department</ref> Some species of trees found in Karnataka are ''[[Calophyllum tomentosum]]'', ''[[Calophyllum apetalum]]'', ''[[Garcinia cambogia]]'', ''[[Garcinia morella]]'', ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'', ''[[Flacourtia montana]]'', ''[[Artocarpus hirsutus]]'', ''[[Artocarpus lacucha]]'', ''[[Cinnamomum zeylanicum]]'', ''[[Grewia tiliifolia]]'', ''[[Santalum album]]'', ''Shorea talura'', ''[[Emblica officinalis]]'', ''[[Vitex altissima]]'' and ''[[Wrightia tinctoria]]''. Wildlife in Karnataka is threatened by [[poaching]], [[habitat destruction]], [[Human–wildlife conflict|human-wildlife conflict]] and [[pollution]].<ref name="book" />