Latitude:
17.49'N and 22.34'NLongitude: 81.27'E and 87.29'E
Situated in the southeast of India, Orissa covers an area of nearly 155,707 sq km. Its exact geographical location can be described as falling between 17.49'N and 22.34'N latitude and 81.27'E and 87.29'E longitude. The state forms about 4.7% of India's landmass and has a 450 km long coastline. Orissa is surrounded by Bay of Bengal in the southeast, Jharkhand in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the south and Madhya Pradesh in the west.
About one third of its area, covering 58, 13,547 sq km, is covered with forests. The western and northern areas of the state stand occupied by the Chhota Nagpur plateau. Along the coast, one can find fertile alluvial plains that are home to intensive rice cultivation. Then, there are the valleys of the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani rivers, which empty into the Bay of Bengal. Deomali, situated in Koraput district is the highest mountain peak of Orissa.
At the same time, Deomali also holds the distinction of being the tallest peak of the Eastern Ghats and also forms a part of the mountain system of Chandragiri-Pottangi. The extensive span of untouched natural landscape of the state serves as the perfect protected habitat to a wide as well as exotic variety of wildlife. The Chilka Lake, situated to the south of the mouth of the Mahanadi River, is the largest coastal lake in India.
