Karnataka Plateau, plateau in Karnataka state, southern India. The name of the plateau is derived from Karnad (“Land of Black Soil”). The plateau has an area of about 73,000 square miles (189,000 square km) and an average elevation of about 2,600 feet (800 metres). It consists of the Dharwar system of volcanic rocks, crystalline schists, and granites. The major rivers include the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri (Cauvery), Tungabhadra, Sharavati, and Bhima. The Sharavati has the highest waterfall in India, known as Jog Falls (830 feet [253 metres)] . These falls are one of the most important sources of hydroelectric power in the country and are also a major tourist attraction. The plateau merges with the Nilgiri Hills in the south. Rainfall varies from 80 inches (2,030 mm) in the southern hills to 28 inches (710 mm) in the northern region.

Sandalwood is exported, and teak and eucalyptus are used chiefly to make furniture and paper. Manganese, chromium, copper, and bauxite are mined. There are large reserves of iron ore in the Baba Budan hills and gold in the Kolar Gold Fields. Jowar (grain sorghum), cotton, rice, sugarcane, sesame seeds, peanuts (groundnuts), tobacco, fruits, coconuts, and coffee are the major crops. Textile manufacturing, food and tobacco processing, and printing are the principal industries. Bangalore (Bengaluru), capital of Karnataka state, is the site of most of the industrial development. Important towns include Mysore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Bellary, and Bijapur.

The Mysore Plateau, also known as the South Karnataka Plateau

Plateau

In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...

, is one of the four geographically unique regions of the India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state of Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

. The plateau has many undulations and is bounded on the west and south by the Western Ghats

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...

. Most of the river Kaveri flows through Karnataka in the South Karnataka Plateau. The average elevation in the region is between 600–900 meters. The South Karnataka Plateau covers the districts of Bangalore

Bangalore

Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...

, Bangalore Rural

Bangalore Rural

Bangalore Rural District is one of the 30 districts in Karnataka. It was formed in 1986, when Bangalore district was divided into Bangalore Rural and Bangalore . Presently in Bangalore Rural district, there are 2 divisions, 4 Talukas, 35 Hoblis , 1,713 inhabited and 177 uninhabited villages, 9...

, Chamarajanagar

Chamarajanagar district

Chamarajanagara is the southern-most district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in the year 1998...

, Hassan

Hassan district

Hassan is a district in Karnataka state, India. The district headquarters are Hassan.Hassan district was the seat of the Hoysala Empire which at its peak ruled large parts of south India from Belur as its early capital and Halebidu as its later capital during the period 1000 - 1334 CE...

, Kodagu

Kodagu

Kodagu , also known by its anglicised former name of Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India. It occupies an area of in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. As of 2001, the population was 548,561, 13.74% of which resided in the district's urban centres, making it the least...

, Kolar

Kolar

Kolara is a city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kolar District. It is known for being one of the gold mining sites in India....

, Mandya

Mandya

Mandya is a city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of Mandya district and is located 40 km from Mysore and 100 km from Bangalore.-Etymology:...

, Mysore and Tumkur

Tumkur

Tumkur is one of the busiest industrial towns located in the state of Karnataka. Since 28 August 2010, Tumkur has been accorded the status of a Corporation city. It is situated at a distance of 70 kilometers north west of the city of Bangalore along National Highway 4...

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