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NATURAL WEALTH

Uttar Pradesh is endowed with natural wealth in abundance. This wealth  lies hidden below a variety of rocks of different ages found in lofty mountain  ranges of the Himalayas in the North and Vindhyan ranges in the South. The diversity of flora and fauna displayed here due to vast area, big and small   rivers, varieties of climatic conditions, and different kinds of soil are hard to find elsewhere.

The minerals found in Uttar Pradesh include limestone which is found in Guruma-Kanach- Bapuhari in Mirzapur district and Kajrahat in Sonebhadra district; dolomite which is found in Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Banda, glass-sand found in Karchhana tehsil of Allahabad district, Karwi in Banda district and  Mau district; marble found in Mirzapur and Sonebhadra; bauxite found in Rajhgewan in Banda district; non-plastic fireclay found in Bansi, Makri-Khoh area of Mirzapur district; and Uranium found in Lalitpur district. Besides, Barytes and Edalusite are found in the districts of Mirzapur and Sonebhadra. Sand-stone, pebbles, reh, salt punter, marang, sand and other minor minerals are also found in the State. 

The flora of a region includes all the varieties of plants which grow there.Vegetation is the general effect produced by the growth of some or all these plants. It is not possible here to name all the varieties of plants, which grow in the State.  Only the vegetation and important plants that grow in the State are mentioned here. The plains of Uttar Pradesh have been very rich in natural vegetation which has, however, diminished due to wide-ranging needs of the people.

Only a few patches of natural forest are now found scattered here and there in the plains, while such forests are extensively found on a very large scale in sub-mountain and mountain regions which is in Uttranchal now. 

Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests are found in the moist region of Terai. They grow in regions which record 100 to 150 cm. of rainfall annually, have an average temperature between 26-27C. and have considerable degree of humidity.

A special feature of the forests is that deciduous trees of uneven size grow on higher altitude regions. Lower regions have several species interspersed with Bamboo,Climbers, Cand and ever green shrubs. Main trees are Sal, Ber, Gular, Jhingal, Palas, Mahua Semal, Dhak, Amla, Jamun, etc.

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests are found in all parts of the plains, and usually in central eastern and western regions. The trees are mostly deciduous. Since sun-light reaches the ground in abundance, shrubs and grasses also grow here. Large tracts of these forests have been cleared for cutivation. Important trees are Sal, Palas, Amaltas, Bel, Anjeer etc. Neem, Peepal, Sheesham. Mango, JamunBabool, Imli (Trmarind) etc. grow along river banks and in other moist regions.

Tropical Thorny Forests are mostly found in south-western parts of the State. Such forests are confined to the areas which have low annual raunfall (50-70 cms), mean annual temperature between 25 degreee to 27 degree centegrade and low humidity (less than 47 percent). Widely scattered thorny trees, mainly, Babool,Thorny, legumes and Euphorbias are extensively found here. During rains, short grasses also grow here. The trees are generally small here forming open dry forests. Important trees of the region are Phulai, Khair, Kokke, Dhaman, Danjha, Neem, etc. Various types of resin and gum are obtained from these trees.

Fauna: Animals depend on forest not only of food but also for habitat. The diversity of fauna living in water and land in the air are found in the State. Since their list is long, mention shall be made here only of important species mainly found in the State :

Fish - Mahaser, Hilsa, Saul, Tengan, Parthan, Rasela, Vittal, Rohu, Mirgal,Kata, Labi, 
          Mangur, Cuchia, Eel, Einghi, Mirror Carp, Trout.

Amphibia - Frog and Toad.

Reptiles - Bamania, Pit-viper, Lizard, Goh, Cobra,Tortoise, Krait, Dhaman and Crocodile.

Aves - Cheel, Vulture, Peacock, Nightingale, Pigeon, Parrot, Owl, Nilkanth and Sparrow.

Mammals - Shrew, Porcupine, Sqirrel, Hare,Mongoose, Cow, Buffalo and Mouse.

Other common species found here are Tiger, Panther, Snow Leopard, Sambhar, Cheetal, Kastura, Chinkara, Black Deer, Nilgai, Back-brown Bear, Mountain Goat, Hyena, Hill Dog, Elephant etc. Among the birds Fowl, Pheasant, Partridge, Florican, Duck, Goose and Wader are common.

[Natural Wealth]  [Cultural Heritage]  [Political History]  [Constitutional Setup]  [Economy]