Physiography River Systems Hill Ranges

Physiography

The District may be divided into  four  broad  geographical units.   There is the Western sector with dense jungles with an elevation of 600 to 900 metres, bordering the Garo Hills.  In the Southern   sector,  especially  the south-eastern part, the hills slope rather abruptly to an elevation of about 150 metres, close to the plains of Bangladesh.  In the Northern sector, there are a series of hills and ranges  which  gradually slope   down to an altitude of about 150 metres till they reach the plains of Assam.  In the central sector, the hill ranges run parallel from  East to West forming the highest part of the district with an average altitude of about 1400 metres.

Fish Pond on the Mawthadraishan Range

 

Hill Ranges 

  The only hill range of significance in the district is  the Mawthadraishan range  which  runs from  east to west.  Hilly formations, that have potential tourist attraction are the  Kyllang  rock,  which  is formed  of  a  huge  igneous  rock,  located near Nongkhlaw (11 kms) from  Mairang . Apart   from   this,  the  other  major  hills  are  U Mawleng in the Lyngngam Area located between Nongiawnaw and Snaram and the Mawhiang rock at Mawkyllei near Pariong. Lum   Kyllai-Longsngun at Myriem, 40 Km.    from   Nongstoin,  Lum  Iawpaw  near Nongnah of Ranikor block, Lum Nongsynrih at Mawkyrwat block , Lum Iangram , Lum Kubuit, Lum Kubah, Lum Langpoin near Pyndeng Umjarain - Nongtynniaw   and  U Lum Kohtyllaw at Nongtnger, are other  peaks in the District.   

 

The Exotic evening view of Mawranglang

 

River Systems

There  are two important river systems in the district, the Kynshi and the Khri, with a number of tributaries.   Kynshi, the bigger of the two, rises  in  the  southern  slopes  of  Marpna Peak  near Mawmaram village  (about 10 kms from Mairang on the way to Shillong).  It follows a westerly course for a considerable distance then takes a   sharp bend to  the  east  and  enters the plains of Bangladesh at Ranikor.  The   Khri river rises near Kyllang rock and flows northwards and is joined  by Khri Synnia   river before it enters the plains of Assam.   Other important rivers that constitute the drainage system of the district are the Umngi, Wahblei, Rilang, Riangdo, Tyrsung, Ryndi, Rwiang, Umit Synthi and Btit.   

The meandering path of Umngi River