The geography here is characterized by mountainous terrain, dominated by the Himalayas, which rise dominantly. This mountain belt is referred to as the Eastern Himalayas with rugged peaks, steep valleys, and dense forests. It is located at the junction of the Indian Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Burmese Plate which creates a diverse geological and ecological environment. The variation in elevation is significant from the 150 meters above sea level in the plains of Assam and the northern regions which rise to at least 7000 meters with some of the highest peaks in the Eastern Himalayas.
The southern margin of the region where this study was conducted begins with a gradual transition from the plains of Assam and Bangladesh to the foot hills of the Himalaya, locally known as the Sub-Himalayan belt, where small hill ranges composed of rolling hills and river valleys, rich in soils provide hospitable living space and spaces for richly diverse life. Progressing north, the highland terrain then progressively becomes steeper and systematically rugged, generally thick with forests, which in the higher elevations gave way to large swathes of alpine meadows, ultimately ascending the threshold of the snow-capped mountains.
The position of this territory within greater northeast India is important to the larger cultural landscape of the region. It serves as a geographic and cultural bridge between India's heartland and Southeast Asia involving trade, migration and cultural exchanges over time. The rivers that flow through this area ultimately drain down into two basins. In the south, the rivers drain down to the Brahmaputra basin and, in the east, the Irrawaddy basin. The variances in river drainage reflect the underlying hydrology of the state along the Himalayan range and its diverse patterns of flow.
From a political geography standpoint, the region is also in a unique position. It has natural borders as barriers, with mountains and rivers acting as international boundaries, but as political zones of upheaval and confluence. The northern and northeastern border, is defined by the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, which is a disputed border. The LAC is not contested, but it represents the area of effective control between both nations that is still in the realm of diplomatic engagement. While the borders with Bhutan and Myanmar remain mostly peaceful, there are ties of history and culture that regard the population's relationship.
Transportation and connectivity in the region are already highly influenced by its location. The rugged terrain and dispersed populations require an interconnected system of roads and highways to navigate the valleys and mountain passes. Infrastructure development is critical in connecting the region to the rest of the country for trade, tourism, and socio-economic development. Many significant towns and district headquarters are situated along river valleys and near accessible mountain passes, marking the intersection of the physical and human geographic landscapes.
Aside from the physical and political geography, the ecological value of this region is great. The location map shows a large amount of area covered with forests that fall within the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. There is a wealth of rare and endangered flora and fauna in this region, including, but not limited to, the well-known red panda, clouded leopard, and several species of orchids/rhododendrons. The forest cover can be influenced by monsoon patterns and elevation gradients, ranging from tropical wet evergreen forests in the southern valleys to temperate and alpine forests at higher elevations.
The climate of this region varies according to geographical features such as altitude and location. The southern and lower regions have a humid subtropical climate with heavy monsoon rains supporting lush vegetation. The northern and higher areas are alpine with cold winters and frequent snowfall. The combination of alpine and tropical conditions is due to the location's proximity to the monsoon winds, which deliver ample precipitation that supports the many rivers and streams that flow across this land.
The strategic location of the region has drawn significant attention historically and continues to draw attention in the modern era. Ancient trade routes that crossed the Indian plains connected to Tibet and Southeast Asia, allowing goods, ideas, and culture to be shared. In modern times, the region lies along the Indo-China border, meaning there is military significance as a number of border outposts and new infrastructure have been designated for it with an emphasis on improving observations and defence.
The human geography reflected in the location map acknowledges the diverse indigenous societies, adapted to the local, specific micro-environments of the landscape. The tribal people of this location, where they exist in close proximity to one another, have distinct languages, practice distinct customs, and possess distinct traditional knowledge systems developed with the mountainous environment. Settlements are clustered closely around rivers, along the base of the foothills, with agriculture and shifting cultivation sustaining livelihoods. The isolation and disconnection fostered by the challenging landscape have also helped to retain many cultural practices and ecological knowledge systems, unique to the region.
When looking at the individual river systems, we see that some of the major rivers originated in or passed through this country. The single most important river that sustains this region is the Siang River, which will later be known as the Brahmaputra. Flowing south from the high mountains, the Siang River runs through deep gorges and into the plains of Assam. There are also other significant rivers, including the Subansiri, Kameng, and Lohit rivers, that empty specific catchments and help balance the hydrology. These rivers support agriculture, drinking water, and there are vast opportunities for hydropower development, which is now coming to grips with the environmental considerations involved.
The location map indicates how this region has been divided into several administrative districts that have different geographical and demographic characteristics and distributions. Administrative districts tend to have a number of natural features in common - usually, river valleys, mountain ranges, and the like. Likewise, they are often arranged to make administration more convenient despite geographical challenges. The arrangements of the population, roads, and resources approximately match the distribution of physical geography as illustrated on the map, supporting the idea of a close relationship between environment and human settlement.
Culturally, the area is located at a crossroads of South Asian and Southeast Asian influences seen in its architecture, language, festivals, and food. Being at the intersection of multiple international borders, there is ample cross-border cultural exchange, cross-cultural trade, and tourism while developing identities that are a unique blend of so many cultural influences. Given its geographic location, the area is becoming a vibrant hub for ethnography and anthropology studies.
The area's resources are also influenced by its geographical location, with the topography and climate leading to the availability of timber, medicinal plants, and minerals, along with one of the largest freshwater resources. There are also differing elevation zones creating different ecological zones that encompass a wealth of species and types of vegetation. Careful, sustainable management will be needed as the availability of these valuable resources, fragile mountain ecology, and more human traffic continue to increase.
The map of this region also represents the challenges presented by the location. The geology of the region provides active tectonic and seismic-related events that are not unusual. Therefore, they are exposed to possible earthquake activity and landslides. The annual monsoon can benefit the region's environment; however, it can result in flooding and soil erosion that impact human settlements and rural and urban infrastructure. Many regions are difficult to reach and enter, and are also very remote geographically from the rest of India. It is difficult to implement infrastructure and development for service delivery or in crisis response.
Also, historical connectivity problems arising from the positioning vis-a-vis the Indian mainland, often called “the chicken’s neck,” with a narrow corridor connecting the northeastern states to the rest of the country, requires that infrastructure development projects including highways, railways and air connectivity are important for socio-economic integration or development and strategic mobility.
This ecological and cultural richness and abundance provide the potential for significant environmental conservation efforts in this area. As noted above, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries mapped throughout this landscape refer to areas set aside to conserve the flora, fauna, and biodiversity of the area. The efforts in conservation reference the sustainable practice of people in a tenuous relationship with the environment, acknowledging the significance of indigenous traditional knowledge in sustainable practice.
FAQs
Q.1: What does the map tell us about the Himalayan effect on the geography of the region?
It depicts the Eastern Himalayan range projecting east to west, with elevations from the foothills to snow-capped peaks.
Q.2: What major river systems are represented in the location map?
The Siang (Brahmaputra), Kameng, Subansiri, and Lohit rivers are represented, illustrating their flow from mountainous origins to the plains.
Q.3: How is elevation depicted on the map?
Through colours or contours, elevations run from under 200 m in the south to over 7,000 m in the northern highlands.
Last Updated on : June 11, 2025
