Kerala occupies a narrow, lush strip of land along the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. The state spans about 580 kilometers (360 miles) along the coast, varying in width from 35 to 120 kilometers. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The state is renowned for its high biodiversity, fostered by its humid tropical climate and varied topography.
The geography is dominated by a vast network of 44 rivers, the majority of which originate in the Western Ghats and flow westward toward the Arabian Sea. Major rivers include the Periyar, Bharathappuzha, and Pamba. A defining geographic feature is the Kerala Backwaters—a sprawling, interconnected system of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, the largest being Vembanad Lake. The state's natural resources include heavy mineral sands along the coast, fertile soils for tropical agriculture, and extensive forest cover rich in wildlife and timber.
