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The Goa
Overview
Goa is a part of the coastal country known as the Konkan,
which is an escarpment rising up to the Western Ghats range
of mountains, which separate it from the Deccan Plateau.
The highest point is the Sonsogor, with an altitude of
1,167 metres (3,829 ft). Goa has a coastline of 101 km (63 mi).
Goa's seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol,
Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal.
The Zuari and the Mandovi are the most important rivers,
interspaced by the Kumbarjua canal, forming a major estuarine
complex.
The total navigable length of Goa's rivers is 253 km (157 mi).
Goa has more than 300 ancient water-tanks built during the
rule of the Kadamba dynasty and over 100 medicinal springs.
Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites rich in
ferric-aluminium oxides and reddish in colour.
The soil is rich in minerals and humus, thus conducive to agriculture.
The rocks are classified as Trondjemeitic Gneiss estimated
to be 3,600 million years old, dated by rubidium isotope dating.
A specimen of the rock is exhibited at Goa University.
Place Of
Interest
Goa has two World Heritage Sites: the Bom Jesus Basilica and churches and convents of Old Goa. Goa has the Sanctuary of Saint Joseph Vaz in Sancoale. There is a claimed Marian Apparition at the Church of Saints Simon and Jude at Batim, Ganxim, near Pilar, where Goans and non-resident Goans visit. There are many forts in Goa such as Tiracol, Chapora, Corjuem, Aguada, Reis Magos, Nanus, Mormugao, Fort Gaspar Dias and Cabo de Rama. Goa has a few museums, the two important ones being Goa State Museum and the Naval Aviation Museum. The aviation museum is one among three of its kind in the India (the other two being in Delhi and Bengaluru).
