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Natural Resources of Gorakhpur

Bustling in the bosom of Rohini and Rapti rivers, Gorakhpur is the city with abundant natural resources. Demographic wise on the west the city is surrounded by cool, divine Rapti River, as if teaching the onlooker on its banks a lesson of patience in each flowing currents. East side is normally associated with luxuriant Sal forest also known as Kushmi Forest, giving a sense of oneness and peace at every moment.

Lakes in Gorakhpur

Ramgarh Tal (lake) on the south is shrouded with greenish blanket. You will be awestruck by a mere sight of its excellent contours and shape. It covers a massive area of 723 hectares and the embankment, a protective mound, it runs about 18 kilometers. This majestic water source also supplies water to the city. Keeping in pace with urbanization the north of Gorakhpur is said to be the city’s development zone. North is ever advancing in a big way.

Geographically, Gorakhpur lies in the North-East of India. It is the largest city in terms of population as compared to other cities in Uttar Pradesh. One can easily perceive that this city teems with natural power and human resources. It is also decked with basic and modern amenities. In view of the foregoing the city can rightly be called the most developed city in Uttar Pradesh.

The Fauna of Gorakhpur

Speaking of natural resources one cannot stop mentioning about the beautiful bird life sanctuary in Gorakhpur. If you are a bird lover this will interest you. The Bakhira Sanctuary is the largest bird sanctuary situated on a natural flood plain wetland, about 43 kilometers west of Gorakhpur city. Though established way back in 1980 it was only a decade after that is in 1990 the Government sanctioned this place as bird sanctuary.

The sanctuary got its name from the village called Bakhira situated close to it. However, there are more than hundred villages that surround this wet plain. The authorities have permitted the villagers to do fishing, farming and collection of woods to serve as fuel. Such activities have, however, not disturbed the delicate ecological balance as the authorities have effectively controlled the villagers’ activities. Moreover, the villagers have raised themselves to the occasion so to speak, by turning their activities into exploitation.

This vast wet land is spread across over an area of close to 30 square kilometers, provides staging and wintering grounds for large number of migratory water birds and of course it also serves as the breeding ground for local birds. With the onset of winters stretching from November to January the whole water body turns into an exotic stage. Migratory birds from Siberia, China, Tibet and Europe some covering more than 5000 kilometers turn the sanctuary into a delightful symphonic choir. The Indian Purple Swamp-hen also joins the club. This attractive yet slothful water bird is a resident of this sanctuary and the village people call it Kaima.

What a delight to watch variety of birds all co-habiting to make us feel bright during depressing winters, if that is how some feel about winters! That is not all. The sanctuary teems with other forms of life too. Algae, hydrophytes, different types of insects and snails to name some few, are part of this ecological platform. Thirty different species of fish found in the lake is a feast to human eyes apart from being the feast for the migratory birds. If you are a zoologist you will easily recognize the Chana and Labeo Rohita are dominant among them.

Minerals found in Gorakhpur

The Gorakhpur district lies on alluvium strata owing to river accumulated sediments. Awarded with alluvial geology abundant alluvial products are unearthed in Gorakhpur. The most common of them are Kankar (gravel), brick soil, and saltpeter technically called Nodular Limestone Conglomerate. The Saltpetre is found principally in the south and south-east region of Gorakhpur. It is excavated and manufactured in a crude state and is mostly exported to Bihar, one of the states in India, in great quantity.

One can see government or private-owned quarries in Bansgaon where Kankar is most abundant. Kankar has been discovered in Mahrajganj also. Lime is obtained as a product by specific smelting process involving Kankar and some other material. Since Brick clay is abundantly found, bricks are manufactured almost in all the places of the district. The color of the soil in the district is yellowish-brown and is slightly dense, light sandy or dense clay of yellowish brown colour, which is used as mortar. In addition, the sand found in the river bed is medium to coarse grained, and also suitable for construction.

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