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Odisha Geography

Environment & General Studies

Useful for: OTET, OSSC RHT — Regular High School Teacher, Junior Teacher, OAVS, OPSC PGT, OSEPA Primary Teacher / JT Category-I, OSEPA Upper Primary — Arts, OSEPA Upper Primary — Science

and 11 more exams

OSSC Geography, OSSC Teacher Readiness, OSSSC Govt Physical Education Teacher (PET), OSSSC Govt TGT Arts, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — CBZ, OSSSC Govt TGT Science — PCM, Special OTET, SSB Lecturer / PGT, SSB Lecturer (Degree Colleges), SSB School Teachers, SSB TGT Arts

Overview

Odisha lies on India’s east coast with the Eastern Ghats, fertile deltas, major rivers, lagoons, mangroves and rich mineral resources.

Key points

Odisha has 30 districts and a coastline of about 480 km.
Major rivers: Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Rushikulya.
Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi (1957) is among the longest earthen dams in the world.
Chilika is India’s largest brackish-water lagoon and home to Irrawaddy dolphins.
Bhitarkanika has mangroves and saltwater crocodiles; Gahirmatha is a major olive ridley turtle nesting site; Simlipal is a tiger and biosphere reserve.
Deomali (Koraput) is the highest peak.

Explanation

Odisha is rich in iron ore, bauxite, chromite (Sukinda valley) and coal (Talcher, Ib valley).
The coast is prone to cyclones.
Kalinga Nagar and Angul are industrial hubs.
The Eastern Ghats run through the south-western districts.
Odisha’s disaster management (e.g. cyclone shelters) is widely praised.

Step by step

Identify the concept, method or policy asked.
Recall the definition, thinker, year or rule.
Apply it to the situation and eliminate extreme options.

Examples

Chromite is mined mainly in → Sukinda valley.
Olive ridley turtles nest in large numbers at → Gahirmatha.
The highest peak of Odisha is → Deomali.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Placing Simlipal on the coast.
Trap: Calling Chilika a freshwater lake.
Trap: Mixing Bhitarkanika and Gahirmatha features.

Quick revision

30 districts; ~480 km coast.
Hirakud 1957; Chilika lagoon.
Sukinda chromite; Deomali peak.

Practice MCQs

How many districts does Odisha have?
1. 30
2. 32
3. 24
4. 28
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Answer: (a) 30. 30 districts.
Odisha’s coastline is about —
1. 1,000 km
2. 280 km
3. 480 km
4. 780 km
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Answer: (c) 480 km. About 480 km.
Hirakud Dam is on the —
1. Mahanadi
2. Baitarani
3. Subarnarekha
4. Brahmani
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Answer: (a) Mahanadi. Mahanadi, 1957.
India’s largest brackish-water lagoon is —
1. Pulicat
2. Chilika
3. Vembanad
4. Kolleru
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Answer: (b) Chilika. Chilika.
Irrawaddy dolphins are found in —
1. Similipal
2. Ansupa
3. Chilika
4. Hirakud
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Answer: (c) Chilika. Near Satapada.
Saltwater crocodiles are a feature of —
1. Similipal
2. Bhitarkanika
3. Satkosia only
4. Debrigarh
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Answer: (b) Bhitarkanika. Bhitarkanika mangroves.
A major olive ridley turtle nesting site is —
1. Gahirmatha
2. Chandipur
3. Gopalpur only
4. Hirakud
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Answer: (a) Gahirmatha. Gahirmatha.
The highest peak of Odisha is —
1. Deomali
2. Malayagiri
3. Meghasani
4. Mahendragiri
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Answer: (a) Deomali. Deomali, Koraput.
Chromite in Odisha is mined mainly in —
1. Sukinda
2. Talcher
3. Koraput
4. Keonjhar only
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Answer: (a) Sukinda. Sukinda valley.
Simlipal is located in —
1. Kendrapara
2. Puri
3. Ganjam
4. Mayurbhanj
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Answer: (d) Mayurbhanj. Mayurbhanj district.