Geography
Uttar Pradesh is India's fifth largest and most populous state, located in the north-western part of the country. It spreads over a large area, and the plains of the state are quite distinctly different from the high mountains in the north. The climate of Uttar Pradesh can also vary widely, with temperatures as high as 47 °C in summer, and as low as −1 °C in winter.
Uttar Pradesh can be divided into two distinct hypsographical regions :
- The Gangetic Plain in the centre – Highly fertile alluvial soils; flat topography broken by numerous ponds, lakes and rivers; slope 2 m/km
- The Vindhya Hills and plateau in the south – Hard rock Strata; varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateau; limited water availability.
The climate of the state is tropical monsoon, but variations exist because of difference in altitudes. The Himalayan region is cold. The average temperature varies in the plains from 3 to 4 °C in January to 43 to 45 °C in May and June. There are three distinct seasons – winter from October to February, summer from March to mid-June, and the rainy season from June to September.
Tropical Monsoon Climate Marked By Three Distinct Seasons:
- Summer (March–June): Hot & dry (temperatures rise to 45 °C, sometimes 47–48 °C); low relative humidity (20%); dust laden winds.
- Monsoon (June–September): 85% of average annual rainfall of 990 mm. Fall in temperature 40–45° on rainy days.
- Winter (October–February): Cold (temperatures drop to 3–4 °C, sometimes below −1 °C); clear skies; foggy conditions in some tracts.
Read more about this topic: Divisions Of Uttar Pradesh
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