10° N, 78° E - Indian Ocean - north-equatorial stream


Kerala, in the south-western part of the Indian peninsula, is a narrow strip of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, with a total land area of 38,863 sq.

The coastal backwater system comprises a network of lakes, lagoons ans estuaries interconnected by a chain of canals through the west flowing rivers of Kerala drain. There are several reasons for the shrinking of backwaters (silt, sediments).

Fort Cochin, with its old Portuguese houses, reminds us of the numerous invaders who came to establish cities on the coast and stimulate the commercial and religious exhanges.

Natural environment	Human environment
Coastline: Low with marsh and mangroves	Language: Malayalam
Climate: Equatorial (forest)	Local economy : Agriculture - Fishing - Shipbuilding - Industries - Tourism
Temperatures: Annual average : 27, 5 ° Thermal amplitude : 16° at 38°	Demography: Population (inhab.) : 1 000 000 Density (inhab/km2) : 500
Precipitations: Annual : 3 000 mm Distribution : Rains of summer monsoon	Human Development Index: India : 0, 59
Biogeographic classification: Mangrove forest (Indomalayan)	Ecological Footprint: India : 0, 77
Natural heritage: Ecological significance, as the connect the river system with the sea (ecological buffer zone) Cultural heritage: Alive traditions Coastal management: Criteria retained by the club: BN 2 : Ecological and biological process (water system) ; BC 5 : Traditonal occupations

http://www.keralabackwater.com