Land

Middle Mountainous Country

The mountainous portions of Odisha (Orissa) cover about three-fourth of entire state as per present configuration and hence determine the economic standard of the state.       

a) The Similipal and Meghasani mountain

b) The Mankarnacha-Malayagiri and Gandhamardar mountains of the Baitarani and the Brahmani interfluves.

c) The watershed between the Brahmani and the Mahanadi 

d) The common interfluves of the Mahanadi, the Rushikulya and the Vamsadhara 

e) The Potangi and Chandragiri mountain ranges.

a) The Similipal and Meghasani Mountain:

The dome-shaped mountain is of volcanic origin and has an elevation ranging from 600 meters to 1,050 meters above the sea level. It is almost circular in extension and has got two peaks, one at Similipal and the other at Meghasani. The radial pattern of drainage is its peculiarity.

b) The Mankarnacha-Malayagiri and Gandhanadar mountains of the Baitarani and Brahmani interfluves:

This group of mountains with three lofty peaks extends in a north-south direction. All these mountains are a part of Eastern Ghats whose original trend is NE to SW. This area is a polycyclic region.

c) Watershed between Brahmani and Mahanadi:

The evolution of these mountains is similar in character with that of the former region. But these are more maturely dissected by continued action of Mahanadi and the Brahmani. The trend of these  mountains is NW in northern portion, and NNW to SSE in the southern portion.

d) The Common Interfluves of the Mahanadi: The Rushikulya and the Vamsadhara

This water shed is deeply eroded and the height varies from 600 to 1000 meters in elevation. This interfluves stretches in the north-south direction with several peaks rising above 1,200 meters.

e) The Potangi and Chandragiri mountain ranges:

These mountain ranges are highest in Odisha (Orissa) and the average height varies form 900 to1,350 meters. The first five highest peaks in the Eastern Ghats are encountered in these mountains. The Deomali peak is the highest in Orrisa with an elevation of 1,672 meters and is the tallest in the whole of the Eastern Ghats. The mountains completely separate the Nagavale and the Sabari basins. They are highly dissected and in the valleys terrace cultivation is practiced. The hilltops are bare of vegetation because of shifting cultivation.

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