A view of the Kochi harbour mouth from Willingdon Island
Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India, in the southern state of Kerala. The city lies at the sea mouth of seven major rivers which start from the Western Ghats and travel through Kerala’s midlands, lowlands and coastal areas, to drain out into the Arabian Sea.
Earlier, Kochi was used to refer to the region encompassing Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Mundamveli and Thoppumpadi. Today, Kochi comprises the mainland Ernakulam, old Kochi, Kadavanthra, the suburbs of Edapally and the exurbia of Kalamassery and Kakkanad to the northeast; Tripunithura to the south east; and a group of islands closely scattered in the Vembanad lake.
Islands of Kochi
Kochi includes an archipelago of various islands, from large to very small. The major islands in Kochi are :
Kochi lies at the northern end of a narrow neck of land, about 19 km long and less than 1.6 km wide in many places, and is separated from the mainland by inlets from the Arabian sea and by the estuaries of rivers draining from the Western Ghats. As a result, Kochi is a natural harbour.
Much of Kochi lies at the sea level, and the city along with the suburbs span an area of around 440 km². The city has a seacoast of about 30 miles.[1] Willingdon Island is the largest Indian artificial island, created by dredging the Vembanad Lake under the direction of Lord Willingdon.[2] The city has a rich network of backwaters, which has been declared as National Waterways by the Central Government.[3]
Soil and rock
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008)
Kochi's soil consists mainly of recent sediments (Alluvium, Teri’s, Brown sands etc.). Hydromorphic saline soils are also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters. The major rock types are Archaean-basic dykes, Charnockites and Gneisses.
Flora
Climate
Month
Temp(°C)
Rain(cm)
Wind(km/h)
Dew Point(°C)
Jan
24
0.9
12
20
Feb
28
1
12
22
Mar
28
1.9
23
14
Apr
29
5.1
24
14
May
28
12.5
25
14
Jun
26
22.3
24
12
Jul
26
20.6
23
12
Aug
26
13.4
23
12
Sep
27
9.8
23
12
Oct
27
12.5
23
9
Nov
27
6.3
23
9
Dec
27
1.9
21
9
Note: Values given are the average over each month.[4]
Kochi’s climate is generally tropical, with no harsh extremities. Under Köppen's climate classification, the city features a tropical monsoon climate. Surface temperatures range between 20–35 °C (68–95 °F). The current record high temperature is 38 °C; the lowest is 17 °C. Heavy rains accompanied by thunder are common from June to September due to the South-West monsoon. Light showers are experienced from October to December due to the North-West monsoon. The average annual rainfall is about 350 cm with an average 132 rainy days annually; the bulk of the rainfall stems from the South-West monsoon. The winds are moderate, with slight increase during summer and the monsoon seasons.
Flora and fauna
The flora of the region is predominantly tropical. Common vegetation in the region include Launaea, Ipomoea, Portulaca, Hydrocotyle, Spinifex, Lippia, Moniera, Cynodon, Digitaria, Cyperus etc. Mangroove formations are also common.
Though much of the city is urbanised, the city retains an ecologically sensitive area right at its centre — the Mangalavanam. Mangalavanam is a nesting ground for a vast variety of migratory birds and supports many varieties of mangroves. This rare ecosystem in the heart of the city has helped mitigate Kochi’s pollution problems. The Mangalavanam is also a protected bird sanctuary.
The backwaters also harbour many different types of fishes. Aquatic mammals like dolphins are aplenty in the backwaters of Kochi.
^"The Cochin Saga". Robert Charles Bristow employed to develop Kochi port. Corporation of Kochi. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
