Geography of Uttarakhand :

Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 53,483 km², of which 86% is mountainous and 65% is covered by forest. Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalaya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and later, after independence, by forest contractors. Recent efforts in reforestation, however, have been successful in restoring the situation to some extent. The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to a large number of animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. Two of India's mighties, the Ganges and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and streams.

 Climate :

The climate of Uttarakhand is stridently distinguished in its two diverse divisions: the major hilly terrain and the smaller plains. The northern part of the state enveloped in the mighty Himalayas shows complete traits of Himalayan climate exerting an appreciable extent of influence on monsoon and rainfall patterns. The climate however also varies within the mountains in accordance with the altitude of the place. In the southern foothills, the average summer temperatures vary between 30°C to 18°C and winter is also bearable and normal. In the areas of the Middle Himalayas, the summer temperatures are usually around 15 to 18°C; however winters temperature even drop below the freezing point. The higher altitudes of Himalayas (more than 15,000 feet) are cold throughout the year and at times become inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. The eastern edges of the Himalayan ranges are subject to heavy rainfall while the western division is relatively dry. However in Gangetic plains, summers are extremely hot and humid with temperature crossing the 40°C mark. Winters here can be relatively quite cold with temperatures dipping below 5°C at times. 

Terrain and vegetation :

Uttarakhand lies on the south slope of the Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to tropical forests at the lower elevations. The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. Mount Nanda Devi is the highest peak of Uttarakhand with the altitude of 7816 m above sea level. Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows occur between 3,000 and 5,000 metres (9,800 and 16,400 ft): tundra and alpine meadows cover the highest elevations, Rhododendron-dominated shrublands cover the lower elevations. Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests lie just below the tree line; at 3,000 to 2,600 metres (9,800 to 8,500 ft) elevation they transition to western Himalayan broadleaf forests, which lie in a belt from 2,600 to 1,500 metres (8,500 to 4,900 ft) elevation. Below 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) elevation lie the Himalayan subtropical pine forests. The drier Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands belt and the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests cover the lowlands along the Uttar Pradesh border. This belt is locally known as Bhabar. These lowland forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture, but a few pockets remain.

Topography :

Topography of Uttarakhand involves the terrain and the landforms existing within its provinces. Set amidst the mighty Himalayas, the topography of Uttarakhand has a distinct range of landforms varying from hills and peaks to cliffs and crests. There are several varieties of rich forests, many glaciers, mountains, rivers and perennial lakes in this state.

Major peaks- Nanda Devi, Mount Kamet , Abi Gamen , Mukut Parvat , Chaukhamba, Trishul, Kedarnath, Neelkanth, Shivling, Nilgiri and Bandarpoonch
Major Rivers- Ganga, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Alakananda, Kosi, Mandakini, Pindar and Saryu
Major Glaciers- Maiktoli Glacier, Kaphini Glacier, Ralam Glacier,, Sunderdhunga Glacier, Chorbani Glacier, Gangotri Glacier, Khatling Glacier and Nandadevi Glacier.

Fauna :

Uttarakhand, owing to its diverse topography and unexploited territories boasts of a vast variety of exotic fauna. Ranging from towering mountains perennially snow bound to the river valleys, undulating hills to the densely forested Terai, you will find a rich variety of fauna. This is why most visitors to the state find their travel incomplete without a trip to the wild life sanctuaries of Uttarakhand.

Flora :

Uttarakhand houses a rich wealth of flora that mostly comprises of a variety of flowers. The flora of Uttarakhand contains the alpine meadows where flowers of different hues bloom every spring.
The flora of Uttarakhand is chiefly concentrated in the Garhwal region, which is also known as the 'Valley of Flowers'. Analogous to its name, the valley in Garhwal houses a multitude of flowers of different colors.
Moreover, as the statistics says, the flora of Uttarakhand comprises 343 species representing 256 genera belonging to 107 families. 

Major Hills :

Uttarakhand is a state of immense natural beauty, boasting some major hills that contribute much to rendering tourism, the source of revenue in the state. The northern areas comprise part of the Greater Himalayan ranges, shrouded by lofty Himalayan peaks and glaciers, whereas the lower foothills were thickly forested till deforested by British log traders and forest contractors in the post independence period. The major hills are regularly visited by tourists from all over the country.

Biodiversity :

Biodiversity of Uttarakhand is rich because of the close relationship between the religious, socio-cultural beliefs and conventions. The biodiversity of Uttarakhand includes the sacred groves that exhibits a rich wealth of flora and fauna. Biodiversity of Uttarakhand comprises of rare and threatened species of plants and animals. In the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, we come across alpine meadows where different kinds of flower bloom in the spring time. This valley of flowers contains a multitude of flowers which is a wonderful sight to look at! 

Major Rivers :

Uttarakhand, located in Northern India, contains some of the most important and major rivers of India. The Ganga and the Yamuna have their sources in this state and comprise the most famous and major rivers of the country as a whole. They are supplied with water on a perennial basis by numerous lakes, glaciers and countless streams in the area.

                 Uttarakhand, also known as "Devbhumi" or the "Land Of God" with its scintillating natural beauty, fascinating snow-clad mountains, fresh and pure water and air, and an aura of Godliness, attracts people from all over the world all though the year.