Forests
About one fourth of the area of Goa is under forests and the same originates
from Archaean rock
formations which are very thick. The soil is murum on the slopes. Many
commercial tree species thrive in the well-aerated soils at the foothills
where the murum is mixed with
humus to form a loamy soil, where the growth is often thick and high.
In the valleys where perennial natural water springs occur, there are
plantations of areca nut. In Goa, forests are confined to the western
Ghat foot-hill slopes mainly in the talukas of Sangium, Satari,
Canacona and Quepem and to a lesser extent in the talukas of Ponda, Pernem
and Bicholim. The coastal talukas of Tiswadi, Bardaz and Salcete had no
forests. The entire land is covered with
verdant forest, coconut, cashew-nut and mango tree groves, interspersed
with extensive paddy fields for cultivation of rice offers a marked and
refreshing contract to the arid hinterland. The port of Marmugao situated
on the southern side of Zauri river is one of the best natural harbours
on the west coast of India and can shelter larger ocean liners. Teak of
good quality is one of the products of the forests of Goa which also produce
bamboo. Eucalyptus trees and oil are among the other products
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