Landscape of Odisha

Overview

Odisha, located on the eastern coast of India, presents a diverse physical landscape that forms an essential component of Environmental Studies for OTET Paper I. The state's geography spans from the Bay of Bengal coastline in the east to the forested highlands of the Eastern Ghats in the west, with major river systems creating fertile plains in between.

For OTET aspirants, understanding Odisha's landscape is crucial because EVS questions often integrate local geography with broader environmental concepts. Students must know the key physical features—coastal plains, hill ranges, river systems, and the unique Chilika Lake—and connect them to livelihoods, agriculture, biodiversity, and environmental challenges faced by local communities.

This topic tests both factual recall (names, locations, measurements) and conceptual understanding (how landforms influence human activities). Expect questions linking geography to daily life, occupations, and conservation—the integrated EVS approach emphasised in the primary curriculum.

Key Concepts

• **Three physiographic divisions**: Odisha is broadly divided into the Coastal Plains (east), the Central River Basins (middle), and the Northern Plateau and Eastern Ghats (west and north). This three-fold division shapes climate, agriculture, and settlement patterns.

• **Coastal Plains stretch about 480 km**: Running from West Bengal border to Andhra Pradesh, this narrow strip (10–100 km wide) is formed by alluvial deposits from rivers. It supports rice cultivation and dense population.

• **Eastern Ghats are discontinuous hill ranges**: Unlike the continuous Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats in Odisha are broken by river valleys. Major sections include Similipal hills (north), Malayagiri range (central), and Mahendragiri peak (south, 1501 m—highest point in Odisha).

• **Rivers flow west to east**: All major rivers of Odisha—Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha—originate in the highlands and flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal, creating deltas and fertile plains.

• **Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha**: Originating in Chhattisgarh, the Mahanadi (851 km total, about 494 km in Odisha) forms a large delta and supports the Hirakud Dam, India's longest earthen dam.

• **Chilika Lake is Asia's largest brackish water lagoon**: Spread across Puri, Khordha, and Ganjam districts, Chilika (about 1100 sq km) is a Ramsar wetland, hosting migratory birds and the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.

• **Landforms influence occupations**: Coastal areas support fishing and salt-making; plains support rice farming; hilly regions support forestry, shifting cultivation (podu), and tribal livelihoods.