Goa Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas
a coastal state between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats escarpment
6
Protected areas mapped
2
Rivers mapped
At a glance
Capital
Panaji
Language
Konkani
Dance
Dekhni
Area
3,702 km²
Coastline
~101 km
Highest peak
Sonsogor · 1,167 m
Borders
Maharashtra, Karnataka
Why UPSC asks about Goa
Goa is the smallest state: the Western Ghats escarpment, the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries, and the long sand beaches of the Konkan. UPSC tests Goa's liberation (1961), Western Ghats ecology, iron-ore mining controversies, and the Konkan railway geography.
Did you know
Goa has no biosphere reserve. India's 18 biosphere reserves are spread across only 16 states, and Goa is not among them. The nearest is Nilgiri (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka).
Zuari
Rises Western Ghats of Karnataka; flows to Arabian Sea at Vasco (Mormugao) · 65 km
Goa's second estuary, feeding the Zuari-Mormugao port complex.
Mandovi
Rises Western Ghats of Karnataka (as the Mhadei); flows to Arabian Sea at Panaji · 37 km
The Dudhsagar falls and the Mhadei (Kalasa-Banduri) diversion dispute with Karnataka are on this river.
Nanda Lake
Goa's first Ramsar site (2022), a small freshwater lake in South Goa supporting resident and migratory waterbirds.
Goa's first Ramsar site (2022).
Mollem NP
A park in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary of the Western Ghats, home to the Dudhsagar waterfalls, part of a corridor with Karnataka's Kali Tiger Reserve. Rich in butterflies and the Wroughton's free-tailed bat.
Contains Dudhsagar falls; contiguous with Kali Tiger Reserve.
Bhagwan Mahavir WLS
Goa's largest sanctuary in the Western Ghats around Mollem, with moist deciduous and evergreen forests supporting gaur, leopards and rich birdlife.
Goa's largest sanctuary; Mollem and Dudhsagar lie within it.
Cotigao WLS
A sanctuary in Canacona taluka near the Karnataka border, with tall tropical forests and a treetop watchtower for viewing gaur and birds.
Southern Goa's tropical forest; treetop watchtower.
Bondla WLS
A small sanctuary in Ponda taluka, popular for its mini-zoo, deer safari and botanical garden within moist deciduous forest.
Ponda taluka; mini-zoo and deer safari.
Netravali WLS
A sanctuary in Sanguem taluka on the Netravali river, known for the Netravali bubbling lake and Western Ghats biodiversity.
Known for the Netravali bubbling lake.
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