MADURAI DISTRICT. Madurai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. Madurai is the third largest city by population in Tamil Nadu, and is the 25th populated city in India.[4] Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia. Madurai has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission. GEOGRAPHY Madurai is located at 9.93°N 78.12°E.It has an average elevation of 101 metres. The city of Madurai lies on the flat and fertile plain of the river Vaigai, which runs in the northwest-southeast direction through the city, dividing it into two almost equal halves. The Sirumalai and Nagamalai hills lie to the north and west of Madurai.The land in and around Madurai is utilised largely for agricultural activity, which is fostered by the Periyar Dam.Madurai lies southeast of the western ghats, and the surrounding region occupies the plains of South India and contains several mountain spurs.The soil type in central Madurai is predominantly clay loam, while red loam and black cotton types are widely prevalent in the outer fringes of the city.Paddy is the major crop, followed by pulses, millet, oil seed, cotton and sugarcane Google Map of Madurai District
Disrtict Map of Madurai District
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Madurai district is having administrataive divisions of 7 taluks, 13 blocks and 670 villages as detailed below.
BASIN AND SUB-BASIN: Madurai district can be further subdivided into Vaigai, gundar, Vaipar and Pambar sub- basins.
DRAINAGE:
Vaigai, a major ephemeral river originates in western ghats of Theni district flow in NW- SE direction, in the central part of the district. In addition, tributaries of Vaipar and Gundar drain in south-western part of the district, while the tributaries of Pambar drained in north eastern part. The general flow direction of the drainage is NW-SE.
IRRIGATION PRACTICES: The nine-fold lands use classification for the district is given below.(2005-06)
RAINFALLAND CLIMATE Analysis of long term rainfall data (1901-2004) shows that the district receives rainfall during NE monsoon (47%) , SW monsoon (32%), summer (17%) and winter (4%).The normal annual rainfall varies from 806 mm (Sholavandan Rain GaugeStation) in the northern part to 964.1 mm (Melur Rainguage Station) in theeastern part of the district. The entire district experiences a declining trendin annual rainfall except at Melur, where a rising trend is noticed. The climate is subtropical and the temperature varies from 15 to 41°C in the district. The relative humidity varies from 45 to 85% and is high during NE monsoon.
GEOMORPHOLOGY The prominent geomorphic units in the district are structural and denudated land forms such as structural and denudational hills, residual wells, linear ridges, uplands and barried pediments.
SOILS: The district is characterised by Red soil, Black clayey soil and Alluvial soil.Red soil is found in all the blocks of the district while black clayey soil is found in Tirumangalam, Usilampatti and Peraiyur blocks of the district and alluvial soil is found along the courses of the river.
Source: http://www.cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/TamilNadu/Madurai.pdf http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/tamilnadu/districts/madurai.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai