Geography of Kolkata

2021-06-13T08:02:40Z

2409:4060:210F:F22A:0:0:B34:A0AC:

{{short description|Aspect of geography}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
[[Image:India-Kolkata-locator-map.PNG|right|thumb|200px|Location of Kolkata]]
[[Kolkata]] is located in the eastern part of India. It has spread linearly along the banks of [[Hooghly River]]. The [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] has an area of 205 square kilometres.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kolkata Municipal Corporation|url=https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/KolkataStatistics.jsp}}</ref> The city is near [[sea level]], with the average elevation being 17 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.calcuttaweb.com/geography.shtml |title=Calcuttaweb site |access-date=18 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060404055505/http://www.calcuttaweb.com/geography.shtml |archive-date=4 April 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The whole area is in the [[Ganges Delta]] which starts within 100 km south to the city. Most of the city was originally [[marsh]]y [[wetland]]s, remnants of which can still be found especially towards the eastern parts of the city.

==Geology==
[[Indo-Gangetic Plain]], the soil and water are predominantly [[alluvium|alluvial]] in origin. Kolkata is located over the "Bengal basin", a pericratonic tertiary basin.<ref name="soil characterization">{{cite conference |url=http://gndec.ac.in/~igs/ldh/conf/2009/articles/T01_03.pdf |title= Characterization of soil over Kolkata municipal area|first1=Diptendra |last1= Das|first2=B.C.|last2=Chattopadhyay |date= 17–19 December 2009|conference=Indian Geotechnical Conference |conference-url= http://gndec.ac.in/~igs/ldh/conf/2009/|volume= 1 |location= Guntur, India|pages=11–12 |accessdate=19 November 2012 }}</ref> Bengal basin comprises three structural unit: shelf or platform in the west; central hinge or shelf/slope break; and deep basinal part in the east and southeast. Kolkata is located atop the western part of the hinge zone which is about {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide at a depth of about {{convert|45000|m|ft|abbr=on}} below the surface.<ref name="soil characterization"/> The shelf and hinge zones have many faults, among them some are active. Total thickness of sediment below the Kolkata is nearly {{convert|7500|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the [[Basement (geology)|crystalline basement]]; of
these the top {{convert|350|-|450|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}} is [[quaternary]], followed by {{convert|4500|-|5500|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}} of [[tertiary]] sediments, {{convert|500|-|700|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}} trap wash of [[cretaceous]] trap and {{convert|600|-|800|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}} [[permian]]-[[carboniferous]] [[Gondwana]] rocks.<ref name="soil characterization"/> The quaternary sediments consist of clay, silt, and several grades of sand and gravel. These sediments are sandwiched between two clay beds: the lower one at a depth of {{convert|250|-|650|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}}; the upper one {{convert|10|-|40|m|ft|abbr=on|-1}} in thickness.<ref name=Bunting>{{Cite journal|last1=Bunting |first1= S. W.|last2= Kundu|first2=N.|last3= Mukherjee |first3= M.|publisher=Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling|location=Stirling, UK| url=http://www.dfid.stir.ac.uk/dfid/nrsp/download/sitanal.pdf|title=Situation analysis. Production systems and natural resources use in PU Kolkata|page=3| accessdate=26 April 2006}}</ref> According to the [[Bureau of Indian Standards]], on a scale ranging from {{nowrap|I to V}} in order of increasing susceptibility to earthquakes, the city lies inside [[Earthquake hazard zoning of India|seismic zone III]].<ref name=hazardprofile>{{cite web|url=http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/hazardprofile.pdf|title=Hazard profiles of Indian districts|accessdate=23 August 2006|work=National Capacity Building Project in Disaster Management |publisher=[[UNDP]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519100611/http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/hazardprofile.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2006}}</ref>

==City geography==
[[Image:Chowringheeskyline2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kolkata — the skyline across the Maidan]]
[[Image:PIA01844 modest rotated.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A satellite image of Kolkata showing land usage]]
[[Image:Prinsep Ghat.jpg|thumb|The Prinsep Ghat which is located on the bank of the Hoogly River]]
Spread roughly north–south along the east bank of the [[Hooghly River]], Kolkata sits within the lower [[Ganges Delta]] of eastern India; the city's elevation is {{convert|1.5|-|9|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=PIA01844: space radar image of Calcutta, West Bengal, India|url=http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01844|publisher=NASA|accessdate=15 January 2012|date= 15 April 1999}}</ref>

===Urban structure===
[[File:Howrah Bridge from the western bank of the Ganges.jpg|thumb|[[Howrah Bridge]] from the western bank of the Ganges|left]]
The [[Kolkata metropolitan area]] is spread over {{Convert|1886.67|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|2}}<ref name=kmdaanreport2011kma>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmdaonline.org/pdf/aar11/introducing_kma.pdf |title=Introducing KMA |year=2011 |work=Annual Report 2011 |publisher=Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority |accessdate=9 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605134704/http://www.kmdaonline.org/pdf/aar11/introducing_kma.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2013 }}</ref>{{rp|7}} and comprises 4 municipal corporations ([[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]], [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]], [[Howrah Municipal Corporation]] and [[Chandernagore Municipal Corporation]]), 37 [[Neighbourhoods in Kolkata|local municipalities]] ([[Bally Municipality]] is merged with [[Howrah Municipal Corporation]] and [[Rajarhat|Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality]] is merged with [[Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation]], so total number of municipalities becomes 37 from 39) and 24 [[panchayat samiti]]s.{{see also|Kolkata metropolitan area#Jurisdiction}} The urban agglomeration encompassed 72 cities and 527 towns and villages, {{as of|2006|lc=on}}.<ref name="Metropolis">{{cite web|publisher=World Association of the Major Metropolises |url=http://www.metropolis.org/sites/default/files/metropolitan_regions/438_007_kolkata_eng.pdf |title=007 Kolkata (India) |accessdate=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308102346/http://www.metropolis.org/sites/default/files/metropolitan_regions/438_007_kolkata_eng.pdf |archive-date=8 March 2012 }}</ref> Suburban areas in the [[Kolkata metropolitan area]] incorporate parts of the following districts: [[Kolkata district|Kolkata]], [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]], [[South 24 Parganas district|South 24 Parganas]], [[Howrah district|Howrah]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] and [[Nadia district|Nadia]].<ref name="urbanprice">{{Cite book|editor1-last=Sahdev| editor1-first=Shashi| editor2-last = Verma | editor2-first = Nilima | contribution = Urban Land price Scenario- Kolkata − 2008 | contribution-url = http://tcpomud.gov.in/Divisions/IEP/Urban%20Land%20Price%20Scenario-%20Kolkata/chapter%20II%20Kol.doc | series = Industry and Economic Planning| year = 2008| title=Kolkata—an outline|publisher = Town and Country Planning Organisation, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India|chapter-format=DOC}}</ref>{{rp|15}} Kolkata, which is under the jurisdiction of the [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] (KMC), has an area of {{Convert|205|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/KolkataStatistics.jsp|title=Official Website of Kolkata Municipal Corporation|website=www.kmcgov.in}}</ref> The east–west dimension of the city is comparatively narrow, stretching from the [[Hooghly River]] in the west to roughly the [[Eastern Metropolitan Bypass]] in the east—a span of {{Convert|9|-|10|km|mi|abbr=on|1}}.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=NASA |title=Calcutta, West Bengal, India |url=http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov/cdrom/sirced03/cdrom/DATA/LOCATION/ASIAMIDE/CALCUTTA/CALCUTTA.HTM |date=20 June 1996 |series=Mission to planet earth program |accessdate=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104150559/http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov/cdrom/sirced03/cdrom/DATA/LOCATION/ASIAMIDE/CALCUTTA/CALCUTTA.HTM |archive-date=4 January 2013 }}</ref> The north–south distance is greater, and its axis is used to section the city into North, Central and South Kolkata. East Kolkata is also a section.
[[File:Kolka.jpg|thumb|Kolkata skyline from [[Chowringhee]]]]
[[File:Kolkata skyline at night.jpg|thumb|Kolkata riverfront at night]]
[[File:Vidyasagar Setu - River Hooghly 2014-01-01 1889.JPG|thumb|[[Vidyasagar Setu]] over the [[Hooghly River]] at dusk]]

==== North Kolkata ====

North Kolkata is the oldest part of the city. Characterised by 19th-century architecture, dilapidated buildings, overpopulated slums, crowded [[bazaar]]s, and narrow alleyways, it includes areas such as [[Shyambazar]], [[Hatibagan]], [[Maniktala]], [[Kankurgachi]], [[Rajabazar (Kolkata)|Rajabazar]], [[Shobhabazar]], [[Shyampukur]], [[Tala, Kolkata|Tala]], [[Sonagachi]], [[Kumortuli]], [[Bagbazar]], [[Jorabagan]], [[Burrabazar]], [[Jorasanko]], [[Phoolbagan]], [[Ultadanga]], [[Chitpur]], [[Pathuriaghata]], [[Cossipore]], [[Belgachia]] and [[Sinthee]].<ref name="urbanprice3">{{Cite book|editor1-last = Sahdev| editor1-first = Shashi | editor2-last = Verma | editor2-first = Nilima | contribution = Urban Land price Scenario- Kolkata − 2008 | contribution-url = http://tcpomud.gov.in/Divisions/IEP/Urban%20Land%20Price%20Scenario-%20Kolkata/Chapter%20III%20Kol.doc | series = Industry and Economic Planning| title=Trends in land prices in Kolkata|year = 2008| publisher = Town and Country Planning Organisation, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India|chapter-format=DOC}}</ref>{{rp|65–66}}

==== Central Kolkata ====

Central Kolkata hosts the central business district. It contains [[B. B. D. Bagh]], formerly known as Dalhousie Square, and the [[Esplanade, Kolkata|Esplanade]] on its east; [[Strand Road, Kolkata|Strand Road]] is on its west.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/web/guest/dalhousie-square |title=Kolkata heritage |website=Government of West Bengal |accessdate=27 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114162511/http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/web/guest/dalhousie-square |archive-date=14 January 2012}}</ref> The [[Writers' Building|West Bengal Secretariat]], [[General Post Office, Kolkata|General Post Office]], [[Reserve Bank of India]], [[Calcutta High Court|High Court]], [[Lalbazar|Lalbazar Police Headquarters]], and several other government and private offices are located there. Another business hub is the area south of [[Park Street, Kolkata|Park Street]], which comprises thoroughfares such as [[Chowringhee]], [[Camac Street]], Wood Street, Loudon Street, [[Shakespeare Sarani]] and [[AJC Bose Road|A. J. C. Bose Road]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=BSNL may take two weeks to be back online|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-09/kolkata/28184192_1_broadband-connections-calcutta-telephones-broadband-lines |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701130856/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-09/kolkata/28184192_1_broadband-connections-calcutta-telephones-broadband-lines |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2012 |agency=[[Times News Network|Times News Network (TNN)]] |date=9 July 2009 |accessdate=27 November 2011 |quote=With the Camac Street-Park Street-Shakespeare Sarani commercial hub located smack in the middle of the affected zone ... |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|location=New Delhi}}</ref> The [[Maidan (Kolkata)|Maidan]] is a large open field in the heart of the city that has been called the "lungs of Kolkata"<ref>{{cite news |title=In city's teeming heart, a place to gaze and graze |first=Jim |last=Yardley |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/world/asia/28india.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |date=27 January 2011 |accessdate=27 November 2011 |quote=To Kolkata, it is the 'lungs of the city,' a recharge zone for the soul. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306012208/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/world/asia/28india.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |archive-date=6 March 2014 }}</ref> and accommodates sporting events and public meetings.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Maidan marauders|last=Das|first=Soumitra|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100221/jsp/calcutta/story_12132260.jsp|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 February 2010|location=Kolkata|accessdate=27 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118134300/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100221/jsp/calcutta/story_12132260.jsp|archive-date=18 January 2012}}</ref> The [[Victoria Memorial (India)|Victoria Memorial]] and [[Kolkata Race Course]] are located at the southern end of the Maidan. Other important areas of Central Kolkata are [[Park Circus]], [[Sealdah]], [[College Street (Kolkata)|College Street]], [[Burrabazar]], [[Bowbazar]], [[Taltala]], [[Janbazar]], [[Entally]], [[Chandni Chowk]], [[Lalbazar]], [[Chowringhee]], [[Dharmatala]], [[Rabindra Sadan]], [[Tiretta Bazaar|Tiretti Bazaar]], [[Bow Barracks]], [[Babughat]], [[Princep Ghat]] and [[Hastings, Kolkata|Hastings]]. Another important park is [[Millennium Park (Kolkata)|Millennium Park]] on [[Strand Road, Kolkata|Strand Road]], beside the Hooghly River. Fort William, on the western part of the city (besides [[Maidan (Kolkata)|Maidan]]), houses the headquarters of the [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] of the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="ecmain">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ==&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw==&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk/3YA==|title=Eastern Command|publisher=Indian Army|accessdate=25 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502204330/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ%3D%3D&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw%3D%3D&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk%2F3YA%3D%3D|archive-date=2 May 2014}}</ref>

==== South Kolkata ====

{{unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
South Kolkata developed mainly after India gained independence in the year 1947. It includes upscale neighbourhoods such as [[Ballygunge]], [[Alipore]], [[New Alipore]], [[Sarat Bose Road|Lansdowne]], [[Bhawanipore]], [[Kalighat]], [[Gariahat Road|Gariahat]], [[Charu Market]], [[Chetla]], [[Jodhpur Park]], [[Lake Gardens]], [[South City]], [[Jadavpur]], [[Dhakuria]] and [[Tollygunge]].<ref name="spatialchange">{{cite book |title= Globalizing cities: a new spatial order?|last=Chakravorty|first=Sanjoy|editor1-last=Marcuse |editor1-first=Peter |editor2-last=Kempen |editor2-first=Ronald van |chapter=From colonial city to global city? The far-from-complete spatial transformation of Calcutta|year=2000 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0-631-21290-4 |pages= 56–77}}</ref>

Other developed areas of South Kolkata include [[Khidirpur]], [[Ekbalpur]], [[Taratala]], [[Behala]], [[Golf Green]], [[Katju Nagar]], [[Poddar Nagar]], [[Bikramgarh]], [[Bijoygarh]], [[Regent Estate]], [[Ranikuthi]], [[Regent Park, Kolkata|Regent Park]], [[Netaji Nagar, Kolkata|Netaji Nagar]], [[Bansdroni]], [[Kudghat]], [[Naktala]], [[Garia]], [[Raipur]], [[Brahmapur, West Bengal|Brahmapur]], [[Baghajatin]], [[Kalikapur, India|Kalikapur]], [[Kasba, Kolkata|Kasba]], [[Haltu]], [[Nandi Bagan]], [[Santoshpur, Kolkata|Santoshpur]], [[Garfa]], [[Haridevpur]], [[Sarsuna]], [[Barisha, India|Barisha]], [[Parnasree Pally]], [[Watgunge]], [[Bartala]], [[BNR Colony]], [[Metiabruz]], [[Rajabagan]], [[Garden Reach]] and [[Badartala]].

==== East Kolkata ====

East Kolkata is largely composed of newly developed areas like [[Beliaghata]], [[Topsia]], [[Picnic Garden]], [[Tangra, Kolkata|Tangra]], Gobra, Kustia, [[Tiljala]], [[Anandapur, Kolkata|Anandapur]], East Kolkata Twp, [[Panchasayar]], Madurdaha, Nayabad, Kalikapur, Purbalok, [[Mukundapur, Kolkata|Mukundapur]], [[Ajoy Nagar]], [[Hiland Park]], [[Chak Garia]], [[Baishnabghata Patuli Township|Patuli]], Budherhat, [[Nayabad]] and [[New Garia]]. Outlying developing areas include [[Dhapa, India|Dhapa]], Uttar Panchannagram, Chowbaga, [[Bantala]] and VIP Nagar. In the pace of rapid urbanization and growing demand for housing and commercial spaces, the [[New Town, Kolkata]] was created in the eastern outskirts of Kolkata to serve the dual purposes of establishing new business centre to reduce the mounting pressure on the existing Central Business Districts (CBD) and increasing housing stock supply by creating new residential units.

==== Howrah and Hooghly (Urban) ====

Technically Howrah and the urban part of Hooghly all have individual identity alongside they are the part of Kolkata Metropolis. Likewise Howrah city is a twin city of Kolkata city. Nabanna, Santragachi, Belur, Bally, Uttarpara, Konnogar, Rishra, Serampore, Bhadeswar, Chinsurah, Hooghly, Chandannagor and Bandel all cities under Kolkata Metropolitan Area, having own fragrance of history, culture. This area is called "Little Europe Of India". All areas are well connected with the city centre.

== Climate ==
{{main|Climate of Kolkata}}
Kolkata has a [[Tropical savanna climate|Tropical wet-and-dry climate]], with summer monsoons. The annual mean temperature is 26.8 °C (80 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 19 °C to 30 °C (67 °F to 86 °F) and maximum temperatures can often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) during May–June. Winter tends to last from December to early-February, with the lowest temperatures hovering in the 12 °C — 14 °C range during December and January. The highest recorded temperature is 43 °C (111 °F) and the lowest is 5 °C (41 °F).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=090824&refer=&units=metric Weatherbase entry for Kolkata]</ref>

[[Monsoon]] is the most notable phenomenon in the climate of the city. Maximum rainfall occurs during the monsoon in August (306 mm) and the average annual total is 1,582 mm. Early morning mists and evening [[smog]] occur often due to temperature inversions. Summer is dominated by strong southwesterly monsoon winds. The city's total duration of sunshine is 2,528 hours per annum, with the maximum insolation occurring in March.<ref>[http://www.ess.co.at/GAIA/CASES/IND/CAL/CALmain.html#clim GAIA article]</ref> Often during early summer, spells of thunderstorm and heavy rains lashes the city, bringing some relief from the heat and intolerable humidity. These thunderstorms are locally known as ''Kalbaishakhi'' (Nor-wester). According to a [[United Nations Development Programme]] report, its wind and cyclone zone is "very high damage risk".<ref name=hazardprofile/>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|33em}}

{{coord|22.5726723|N|88.3638815|E|display=title}}

{{Kolkata topics}}
[[Category:Geography of Kolkata| ]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Geography of Kolkata