Geography of Arunachal Pradesh

Stretching from the snow-capped eastern Himalayas, at an altitude of 6,000 metres, to the plains of the Brahmaputra valley, Arunachal Pradesh lies at the country's north-eastern tip, surrounded by Bhutan, China and Burma. Assam lies to its south (Interactive map of Arunachal Pradesh).

Arunachal Pradesh orchids occur naturally in diverse habitats. In the rich tropical forests of the Tirap district, clusters of the beautiful blue vanda (Vanda Coerulea) adorn the trees. Their large blue - violet blooms are delicately veined. The bamboo orchid, Arundina Graminifolia, a pretty evergreen species attractive pink - purple flowers is common in open sunny areas near Tipi where an Orchid Research Centre boasts of a good collection of orchids.

Wild jungle remains throughout 82% of the state, rock and snow 8%, leaving a modest 10% in towns and farmland. The species in the region have not been fully cataloged, but over 6,000 species of plants, 650 birds, and more than 100 mammals (29 of which are endangered) live here. Such wildness and diversity are now extremely rare in India. Arunachal Pradesh reminds the thoughtful observer of the unspoiled world described in the sacred Indian epic, the Ramayana.

The major rivers of the state are the Brahmaputra and its tributaries (the Dibang [Sikang], Lohit, Subansiri, Kameng, and Tirap). The Brahmaputra (known as the Tsangpo in Tibet and the Dihang [Siang] in Arunachal Pradesh) flows eastward across Tibet before dipping south through the Himalayas into north-central Arunachal Pradesh.

The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with topography and altitude. The foothill zone is subtropical and has a hot and humid climate; in the lower valleys, maximum summer temperatures reach 95� F (35� C), while winter minimums drop below 57� F (14� C).