Named after Goddess Shoolini, district Solan is hilly tract covering area of 1936 Sq mtr. Altitude of district is ranged from 276 Mts to 2200 Mts. The District is bounded by Mandi and Bilaspur in the North, Punjab in the West, Haryana and Sirmour bordering in the South and Shimla in the East.
Political Geography of Solan
Relief Profile of Solan
Unlike other districts of Sub Himalayan belt, longitudinal valleys( Doons) in district are not very wide ,however mountain ranges are comparatively very high. The elevation of the district range from 300 to 2200 Mtrs. above mean sea level. Altitude of district increase eastward, thus eastern part of district( such as Kandaghat ,Solan, Kasauli) has higher altitude compared to western & southern part. Central part of district such as Kunihar and Subathu has low altitude and surrounded by hills.
Physiographic Division of Solan
Physiographically district can be divided into numerous valleys and mountain ranges.
- Ghambhar Valley, Ghagar Valley, Ashni valley and Satluj valley are important valleys of district.Ghambar valley which is located in central part of district is longest and largest valley of district , it is connected to Bilaspur.
- Hills of district are devoid of permanent snowfall, however rivers flowing through district are perennial in nature. Majority of area fall in the catchment of Satluj river , however small area of district come under Yamuna catchment. A Southward mountain ridges of Dhauladhar that extend from Shimla to Kasauli form the natural water divided between Indus basin and Gangetic basin.
River Ghambar is the principal river of district. It rises near Solan and Shimla border. It is a consequent stream that cut the district in two equal parts. River Sirsa is another important river drained into Satluj river. River Ashwani which drained the South East part of district is part of Yamuna drainage System.
Geology of Solan
- Western most part of district is separated from Gangetic Plain by Main frontal Thrust. It is area of low lying ridges with Piedmont Plain/Alluvial fill at foothill from Quaternary age. This tract fall in Nalagarh and Baddi Tehsil . River Sirsa flow through this tract.Mid part of district is represented by Shiwalik rocks of Subathu, Dagshai and Kasuli Formation. These rocks developed in Shallow marine environment of Tethyan sea.
- It is important to mention here that Subathu sequence is very rich in fossils records. Lesser Himalayan Sequence from Cambrian to Precambrian age is represented by Tal, Krol, Shalli and Shimla sequence, contrary to Shiwalik sequence these rocks lack fossils record, because macroscopic life had yet not emerged. However from mineral point of view this sequence is very important, all cement plant of district are located in this zone.
