Uttar Pradesh: Geographical Location - 1 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

The state of Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in terms of area after Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is the most populous state in India. It has a vast area which consists of plains, hills and plateaus. The Northern part of the state is surrounded by Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas, the Western and Southern part are surrounded by Yamuna river and Vindhyachal and Eastern part by Gandak river 

Location and Extent of Uttar Pradesh 

• Uttar Pradesh lies between 23 52 °' N and 30 24 °'N latitudes and 77 05 °'E and 84 38 °'E longitudes. 
• The length of the state from East to West is 650 km and breadth from South to North is 240 km. 
• The state covers 2,40,928 sq km area which is 7.33% of the total percentage of the country’s area. 
• The boundary of the state is touched by 8 states and 1 Union Territory (Delhi). 
• The Eastern most district of the Uttar Pradesh is Ballia and the Western most district is Shamli. 
• The Northern most district of Uttar Pradesh is Saharanpur and the Southern most district is Sonbhadra. 
• Uttar Pradesh is bounded by Nepal (international boundary) and Uttarakhand from North, Himachal Pradesh from North-West, Haryana and Delhi from West, Rajasthan from South-West, Madhya Pradesh from South, Chhattisgarh from South-East and Jharkhand and Bihar from the East.

States having Border with Districts of Uttar Pradesh
 

Geological Structure 

• The Southern part of Uttar Pradesh consists of plateau region which is a part of Vindhyan range or rock system. This rock system was formed in Pre-Cambrian period. 
• The formation of these rocks can be seen through the erosional activities on the rocks which were elevated due to the deposits in the Tethys sea. 
• These rocks comprised of different minerals like limestone, dolomite and sandstone. These rocks have no fossil remains. 
• Kaimur series was formed by Vindhyachal rock system. This rock series is comprised of sand stone, quartz and conglomerate minerals. 
• Kaimur series is extended in the states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.  

Bundelkhand Granite Gneiss 

• It was formed in pre-Paleozoic Era. 
  It is consisted of minerals like red orthoclase, feldspar, red quartz, hornblende, chloride, etc. 
• These hard red sandstones were used in Agra and its adjoining edifices of Mughal period. 

Tertiary Period 

• In this period, the Himalayan mountain range was formed. This formation was a result of deposition and upliftment of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in the Tethys Sea which was lying between Angaraland and Gondwanaland. This range is known as Shivalik.
• Shivalik ranges are comprised of sand, pebble stones and conglomerate. 

Quaternary Period 

• Bhabar and Terai regions were formed during Quarternary period. In these belts, mainly sandstone, sand, pebbles, etc are found. 
• The Bhabar and Terai regions are result of swift erosion and deposition by rivers. The vast plain of Ganga-Yamuna started to form in Pleistocene period and this process is still continued in the present time. 
• The Bangar and Khadar regions of this vast plain were also formed in Quarternary period. It is a result of sedimentary deposition. 
• Older alluvial deposits are known as Bangar which comprise of huge boulders while newer alluvial deposits are known as Khadar which comprise of fine sediments.
• Remains of mammals are still found in the older alluvial soils of Yamuna river.