Origin of the name of the district of Goa:
According to the Gazetteer of the government of Goa, Goa known as Gowa or Gova or Goem is an abbreviation of the word 'gomant'. The usually accepted derivation of the term 'gomantaka' is from go+manta+ka; go meaning cattle, gomanta meaning herd of cattle-owners with ka affixed to the noun to express dimunition and similarity.
Location and Boundaries:
The state of Goa has an area of 3,701 square kilometres and a population of 1.169 million according to the Census of 1991. Its geographical position is defined by 15.48'00" N and 14.53'54" Latitude and 74.20'13" E and 73.40'33" E Longitude.
Physical Features:
Goa, is a part of the West Coast region of India. It has many physical features in common with the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka . There are broadly three main physical divisions of Goa: the mountainous region of the Sahyadri ranges in the east, the plateaus in the centre with their detached elements abutting in several places into the sea, and the low-lying river basins and coastal plains.
The Sahyadris of Goa-
The Sahyadris in Goa have an area of about 600 sq kms and an average elevation of 800 metres. Looking eastward from the plains the mountains form a blue wall on the horizon with peaks jutting out. These peaks are known by their traditional names. The most conspicous are; Sonsagar, 3827 feet above sea-level, Vaguerim, 3500 feet, Morlemchogor, 3400 feet and Catlanchimauli, 3633 feet above sea level. This area is the source for almost all Goan rivers.
The Plateaus-
The central portion of Goa consists of plateaus ranging between a height of 30 metres to 100 metres. The tops are fairly level, but are in places deeply notched by gullies; the plateau rims are noticeably sharp and a steep slope usually marks the transition to the alluvial plain below. On the coastline the plateaus end in headlands; the Aguada, Mormugao and Cabo heights are prominent examples.
The River basins-
The major riverine plains in Goa are those of the Mandovi and Zuari. Those of the Chapora in the north, and the Sal and the Kushavati in the south have shallower basins. Along the coastline, these basins develop alluvial flats behind sand bars to form rich agricultural tracts.
Rivers:
The Tiracol, Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal, Galgibag, Talpona are among the most important rivers of Goa.
- Tiracol-
- The Tiracol rises in the Sahyadri mountain range and flows along the border of Goa over a stretch of 27.5 kms before emptying into the Arabian Sea at Tiracol village.
- Chapora-
- The Chapora has its source in the Ramghat hills in Belgaum district. It enters Goa at Ibrampur village. After covering a distance of 31.5 kms in Goa, it discharges into the Arabian Sea at Chapora village.
- Baga-
- The Baga river originates in the dense mixed jungles of Assagao, Bardez. The river is 10 kms long and flows into the Arabian Sea at Baga.
- Mandovi-
- The Mandovi also called the Madai rises in the Sahyadris in the dense forests of Karnataka. It is the longest river of Goa with the largest drainage basin. Its 81 kilometre course meanders through the state and empties into the Arabian Sea.
- Zuari-
- The 67 kilometre long Zuari river rises in the Sanguem taluka and flows through the Quepem, Salcete, Ponda, Mormugao and Tiswadi talukas into the Arabian Sea.
- Sal-
- The Sal originates near Verna and flows southwards to join the Arabian Sea at Betul after 35 kms.
- Talpona-
- The Talpona starts from the dense mixed jungles of Ravona Dongor. It passes Bhatpal, Astegal, and Partagal in Canacona taluka and reaches the Arabian Sea near Talpona. The river is 31 kms long.
- Galgibag-
- The Galgibag river enters Goa near Mulem and flows northwest till Ponguinim. It discharges into the Arabian Sea near Maxem. The length of the river is 15 kms.
FORESTS:
The physiography of the state of Goa comprises chiefly of the undulating terrain of the western ghats. These ghats are the source of two of Goa's prominent rivers; the Mandovi and the Zuari. The forests are confined to the eastern portion of the ghats, in the foothills of the Satari, Sanguem, and Canacona talukas.
- Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests-
- Along the north-eastern and south-eastern portions bordering the Karnataka state, evergreen and semi evergreen vegetation occurs in the deep ravines and gorges of the Sanguem, Satari and Canacona talukas. The annual rainfall varies from 5100 mm to 7600 mm. Some commonly growing trees are the Jambul (Syzygium cumuni), Mango (Mangifera indica), Dalchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). The local bamboos are the Velu (Bambusa arundinacea) and Kanaki (Dendrocalamus strictus). Both evergreen and semi-evergreen forests are distributed over an area of 256 square kilometres. This zone has been classifed as 'A' class forests, set apart for the preservation of climate, regulation of water flow and conservation of soils in the hilly tracts.
- Moist deciduous forests-
- Along the slopes of the foothills in the talukas of Ponda, Sanguem, Canacona, Quepem, and Satari are forests with commercial potential, categorised as 'B' class forests for exploitation of the forest produce by the state for profit. Some prominent tree species in this zone are Maretha (Terminalia crenulata), Zambo (Xylia xylocarpa), Kusum ( Schleichera oleosa). Natural teak also occurs sporadically in these forests.
- Flora-
- The flora of the Western Ghats is very rich. 27 percent of the flowering plants of the country can be found in this region. It harbours over 3500 species.
The ten dominant natural orders of plants in the Western Ghats are: Gramineae, Leguminosae, Acanthaceae, Orchidaceae, Compostiae, Euphoribiaceae, Rubiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Geraniaceae, and Labiatae.