Goa: Geographical location | Goa State PSC (GPSC) Preparation - GPSC (Goa) PDF Download

• Historical Description: "Now our road takes us to the magnificent kingdom of Goa. The people of this kingdom are strong, prudent, and very hardworking."
• Significance: "The kingdom of Goa is the most important in India. It is civilized, with famous orchards and water, and is the coolest place in India, most plentiful in foodstuffs."
• Leisure and Appeal: "The white people make a practice of visiting Goa to enjoy the shade, groves of trees, and to savor the sweet betel."
• Historical Context: These remarks, made over five centuries ago by the Portuguese Ambassador to China around 1511, are not from the hippie era of the 1960s and 70s but provide a vivid precursor to the later generations who came to the fabled land of Goa.

Location and Area of Geographical location of Goa

• Location and Coastline: Goa is situated along the Konkan coast of India and has a coastline of 131 kilometers.
• Natural Features: The state is blessed with scenic coastal tracks along the Arabian Sea and the beautiful hill ranges of the Western Ghats. The terrain is partly hilly, with the Western Ghats rising to nearly 1200 meters in some areas.
• Geographical Boundaries:
  • To the north, the Terekhol River separates Goa from Maharashtra.
  • Karnataka lies to the south.
  • The Arabian Sea is located to the west.
  • The Western Ghats form the eastern boundary.
• Tiswadi Island: This island lies between the Mandovi and Zuari rivers and is connected on the landward side by a creek. The island is triangular in shape and divides the harbor of Goa into two parts:
  • Aguada at the mouth of the Mandovi River to the north.
  • Mormugao at the mouth of the Zuari River to the south.
• Dimensions: Goa stretches 105 kilometers from north to south and is about 60 kilometers in width from east to west.
• Area: The state has a geographical area of 3702 square kilometers.
• Capital: The capital of Goa is Panjim.

Administration

• Goa is administratively divided into two districts:
• North Goa District: Comprising 6 talukas and covering an area of 1736 sq. kms.
• South Goa District: Comprising 5 talukas and covering an area of 1966 sq. kms.
• North Goa District is subdivided into 6 blocks:
  • Pernem
  • Bardez
  • Bicholim
  • Sattari
  • Tiswadi
  • Ponda
• South Goa District is subdivided into 5 blocks:
  • Cancoana
  • Sanguem
  • Quepem
  • Salcete
  • Murmugao
• The headquarters of North Goa District is in Panjim, and the headquarters of South Goa District is in Margao.
• The state has 383 revenue villages:
• 233 in North Goa
• 150 in South Goa
• There are 44 towns in the state, including 14 municipal towns.
• The state administration is managed by the Council of Ministers under the guidance of the Chief Minister.
• The Governor is the Head of the State, and the Chief Secretary oversees the administrative setup.
• The Collectors of North Goa and South Goa Districts are responsible for district-level administration.
• At the Taluka level, the administration is handled by the Mamltdar, and at the block level, by the Block Development Officers.
• 233 revenue villages in North Goa are grouped into 122 Village Panchayats. 70 revenue villages in South Goa are grouped into 65 Village Panchayats, totaling 192 Village Panchayats for village-level administration.
• At the village level, the Panchayat administration is managed by the Sarpanch, assisted by several Panchas, to implement various programs and address local needs.

Detailed explanation of Geographical location of Goa

• Location and Area: The State of Goa is located along the West Coast of India with a geographical area of 3702 sq. kms. It lies between the latitudes N14°53'57" and N15°47'59", and between the longitudes E73°40'54" and E74°20'11".
• Dimensions: Goa extends about 100 km from north to south and about 55 km from east to west.
• Boundaries:
  • North: Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra
  • North-East: Belgaum district of Karnataka
  • East and South: Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka
  • West: Arabian Sea
• Geographical Region: Most of Goa is part of the Konkan-Kanara coastal lowland region, bounded in the east by the Western Ghats escarpment (Sahyadri mountain range).
• Connectivity:
  • Road: Connected by NH17 and NH4A highways
  • Rail: Served by the Konkan Railway and South Western Railway
  • Air: Dabolim Airport
• Maritime Trade: The Mormugao Port is a major hub for maritime trade in India and ranks among the top ten iron ore exporting ports globally.
• Tourism: Goa is renowned for its beautiful beaches, places of worship, and world heritage architecture, attracting large numbers of international and domestic tourists annually.
• Administrative Divisions: Goa is divided into two districts:
  • North Goa: Includes six talukas: Pernem, Bardez, Tiswadi, Bicholim, Ponda, and Sattari.
  • South Goa: Includes five talukas: Mormugao, Salcete, Quepem, Sanguem, and Canacona.
  • Headquarters: North Goa at Panjim and South Goa at Margao.
• Population: As per the 2011 Census (Provisional), the population of Goa is 14.57 lakhs with a population density of 394/sq. kms. The coastal talukas are more populous compared to the inland talukas.
• Towns and Villages: The state has 14 statutory towns, 56 census towns, and 334 villages.
• Development: Goa is one of the developed states of India, with high per capita income, high literacy rate, better healthcare facilities, and a higher standard of living.
• Natural Resources: Goa is endowed with:
  • Forests
  • Navigable rivers
  • Valuable mineral deposits like iron and manganese
  • Fertile agricultural land
  • Abundant rainfall
  • Marine and inland fishing potential
  • Beautiful coastline
  • Important natural harbour

Physical Division of Geographical location of Goa

Goa as a region can be divided into four physical divisions:

• Eastern Hill Region: Includes areas in the Western Ghats such as Sattari, Ponda, Canacona, and Sanguem.
• Central Valley Land: Comprises Pernem, Bicholim, Ponda, eastern parts of Sanguem, and Quepem.
• Flood Plains: Encompasses the coastal plains and uplands.
• Coastal Plains: Covers areas such as Tiswadi, Mormugao, Bardez, and Salcete.