Mizoram is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers, and lakes in Northeast India. As many as 21 major hill ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered here and there. The average height of the hills to the west of the state is about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet). These gradually rise to 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) to the east. Some areas, however, have higher ranges which go up to a height of over 2,000 metres (6,600 feet).

Landscape of Mizoram

Hills of Mamit district

The folded structure of the Mizoram ranges is at the junction of two moving tectonic plates(Indian and Burmese Desi Kachar 1974). On 19 April 2011, there was a 4.3 earthquake about 10  km North of Kolasib, and a 6.4 was recorded on 4 February 2011. Mizoram is in the highest zone 5 for earthquakes.[1]

The folded hilly or mountainous North South belts, with perpendicular faults, comprise sediments of the Surma (Middle Bhuban Formation), Barail, and Tipam groups. There is Alluvium in river beds consisting of deposits of argillaceous and arenaceous sandstones, shale, siltstones and mudstones, and greywacke. A 560m thick rock succession of the Middle Bhuban type exposed between Bawngkawn and Durtlang shows 7 normal and 7 reverse magneto strata (North and South pole reversals) showing its age to be around 20 Million years old.[2] The rock system is generally weak, unstable, weathered, and prone to seismic and weather influence-producing landslides. The soft, black-to-grey rock is used locally for building materials and low-traffic road construction work. There are no useful minerals of economic significance apart from clays in the River Tlawng beds together with deposits of sand and gravel. Typical soils are sandy loam, and clay loam that have been heavily leached due to the high slopes leaving it porous and lacking in minerals or humus.

Several oil and gas exploration activities have taken place due to the geological condition with which Mizoram has been formed, leading to the possibilities and high expectations that reserves would be confirmed. France, Russia, and Cyprus as well as several Indian companies have already signed a 12% oil and 10% gas royalty arrangement with proceeds going directly to Mizoram state on any production (April 2009)

Mountain Range

Rivers

Lakes

Waterfalls

Vantawng Falls

See also

References

  1. ^ "Quake measuring 4.3 on Richter scale jolts Mizoram - VIRTHLI". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. ^ Geology - Researchers at Mizoram University release new data on geology
  3. ^ "HMUIFANG TOURIST RESORT". Govt of Mizoram. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. ^ "ANTHURIUM FESTIVAL 2010". Eastern Panorama. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Mountains of Mizoram". mizohican. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  6. ^ "MOUNTAINS IN MIZORAM" (PDF). Shodhganga. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  7. ^ "MOUNTAINS IN MIZORAM" (PDF). ide.go. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Mountain in Mizoram". mizoram.nic.in. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  9. ^ Bhargava, Gopal (2005). Land and people of Indian states and union territories. p. 25. ISBN 9788178353753. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Pachuau, Rintluanga (1 January 2009). Mizoram: A Study in Comprehensive Geography. Northern Book Centre. p. 35. ISBN 978-81-7211-264-6. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  11. ^ Prasad, Ram Narayan; Agarwal, Ashok Kumar (2003). Modernisation of the Mizo Society: Imperatives and Perspectives. Mittal Publications. p. 85. ISBN 978-81-7099-889-1. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  12. ^ Lalhriatpuii (2010). Economic Participation of Women in Mizoram. Concept Publishing Company. p. 11. ISBN 978-81-8069-665-7. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  13. ^ Rintluanga Pachuau (1 January 2009). Mizoram: A Study in Comprehensive Geography. Northern Book Centre. p. 39. ISBN 978-81-7211-264-6.
  14. ^ "Main River of Mizoram". Mizoram.nic.in. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  15. ^ "3.1.2 Tuirini watershed" (PDF). Shodhganga. Retrieved 27 November 2018.