RiversAssam, situated
in the eastern region of the country, is gifted with extensive river
systems. This is due to heavy rainfall in the Himalayan region. The
major rivers of the state include Brahmaputra, the Kusiyara, the Barak
and their tributaries. The Brahmaputra River has a total drainage area
of about 935,500 sq. km. So far, a total of 4, 77,163 hectares of land
has been irrigated in Assam.
All the rivers in Assam cause devastating floods, mainly because they receive heavy rainfall within a short time.
ForestsAssam’s forest cover is about one-third of its total
geographical area. The Kaziranga National Park in the state is the dwelling place for the
endangered great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Kaziranga is one of the most famous
wildlife refuges
in the country.
Assam’s forests produce timber and bamboo,
firewood
and lac (the source of shellac) etc. There are about 74 species of
timber, of which two-thirds are commercially exploited. The forests
provide dwelling place to a large
population of wild animals such as elephants, tigers, deer and wild pigs etc.
MineralsAssam is a major producer of crude
oil and natural gas in the country.
Most of the oilfields of Assam are located in the Upper Assam region of
the Brahmaputra Valley. Coal and limestone are among other major
minerals found in the state.