Geography

Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley
in Assam to about 610 metres 2,000 ft and rise further to the southeast, as high as 1,800 metres 6,000 ft.Mount Saramati at an elevation of 3,841.00 metres 12,601.70 ft is the state's highest peak; this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in which form the boundary with Burma. Rivers such as the Doyang and Diphu to the north, the Barak river in the southwest, dissect the entire state. 20 percent of the total land area of the state is covered with wooded forest, a haven for flora and fauna. The evergreen tropical and the sub tropical forests are found in strategic pockets in the state.

Climate

Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 1,800–2,500 millimetres 70–100 in,concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures range from 21 to 40 °C (70 to 104 °F).In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 4 °C (39 °F), but frost is common at high elevations.The state enjoys a healthy, pleasant climate. Summer is the shortest season in the state that lasts for only a few months. The temperature during the summer season remains between 16 to 31 °C (61 to 88 °F).Winter makes an early arrival and bitter cold and dry weather strikes certain regions of the state.The maximum average temperature recorded in the winter season is 24 °C (75 °F). Strong northwest winds blow across the state during the months of February and March.

Flora and fauna

About one-sixth of Nagaland is covered by tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests—including palms,bamboo, rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum cultivation, many scrub forests, high grass, and reeds. Many staple Indian species live in Nagaland including dholes, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys,deer, and buffaloes thrive across the state's forests.

The great Indian hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the state. Blyth's tragopan, a vulnerable species of pheasant, is the state bird of Nagaland. It is sighted in Mount Japfü and Dzükou Valley of Kohima district, Satoi range in Zunheboto district and Pfütsero in Phek district. Of the mere 2500 tragopans sighted in the world, Dzükou valley is the natural habitat of more than 1,000.The state is also known as the "falcon capital of the world."

Mithun a semi-domesticated gaur is the state animal of Nagaland and has been adopted as the official seal of the Government of Nagaland. It is ritually the most valued species in the state. To conserve and protect this animal in the northeast, the National Research Centre on Mithun NRCM was established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR in 1988.