Source: Himachal Pradesh Geography Through Maps and H.P. Geography by Pardeep Kumar. Content owned and rights reserved by the author and site owner.
Location of District Una
Total area of Una is about 1540 Sq km whole district fall in Shivalik hills. District is bordered by Kangra in north and north east, Hamirpur on east, Bilaspur on south and Punjab on west.General elevation of district range from 337 Mt to 1105 Mt. North Western & Eastern part of district have high elevation and elevation decrease toward central and southern part of district. Physiographically district can be divided into
- Shivalik hills, Piedmont Plains , Flood Plains and denuded hillocks.
Physiographic Map of Una.
Mountain Ranges of Una District:
- In North & North East, district is surrounded by many small mountain ranges (Shivalik), running North west to South East with gradual increase of altitude toward east. In fact these ranges are part of same mountain system that rises from Kangra.
- A small mountain range enter the district as Chintpurni Dhar in village Ghangret, it is principal mountain range of district, Chintpurni dhar continue toward South east as Jaswan Dhar and further east as Solah Singhi Dhar. This mountain range formed the natural border with Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur. Solah Singhi Dhar is the also highest geographical unit of District.
Una District Landforms along the Western Border
- Western part of district along the Punjab border is also a hilly tract, however altitude of these hills never exceed 600 mtr. The whole tract is very fragile and actively eroded by numerous monsoonal streams. In fact hills of Una in general are very susceptible to erosion and one can easily encounter Rill, Gully and Ravine .
- In monsoon season local streams known as Choose (a kind of Ravine/Gully) cause widespread Splash flood in the district.These western hillocks are covered by variety of Sub Tropical dry trees and shrubs and hence are very prone to Forest fire.
Una District as one of the Largest Doon Valley
- Central part of district is surrounded by mountain from three sides, making it largest Doon valley of Himachal(App.600 Sq km). Numerous meandering streams deposits fresh alluvial in every Monsoon. The Doon is very narrow in Northern side (3 km) and become wider toward south (15 km).
- Further the general elevations of Doon decrease toward South East. This make whole Doon very susceptible to flooding,The soil is sandy and light brown in color which is good for wheat, Potato and sugarcane cultivation.
Piedmont Plains of Una and Agriculture , Himachal Pradesh
- Foothills of Shivalik are zone of fertile Piedmont plain formed due to active erosion and deposition. Soils of these Piedmont plain is very sandy, deep and fertile. It support the good root penetration and aeration however it is subjected to severe erosion. These plains are extensively exploited by farmers for the cultivation of Wheat, Potato and Sugarcane etc.
District Una and Govind Sagar Reservoir
Bearing the northern part of district almost all area fall within Satluj catchment. Area between Solah Singhi Dhar and Dhian sar Dhar & Ramgarh Dhar is part of Govind Sagar Reservoir.( Lunkhar river drained this part)
Swan River , Landforms and Agriculture , District Una, H.P
- There are numerous rivers but river Swan is the largest and the longest river of district. Swan is a Surface River, cut the district longitudinally almost in two equal parts. It is among the widest river of hills. River is still in very young age, meandering loops and numerous Oxbow lake prove its youthfulness.
- During Monsoon season it actively engaged in lateral erosions, engulfing the fertile land and causing large scale flood in district. This is the reason river is also known as Sorrow of Una. To Stop the further land loss number of river channelization project are being undertaken by Govt. ( for detail see it Complete Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chandrabhga, Tons River system a Map based Study.(Part-2))
Geology of District Una, HP.
- Geological history of district is closely linked with development of Main Frontal Thrust(MFT). District is delineated from Great Indian Plains by MFT in South and Soan and Badsar thrust in North. After the rise of Greater Himalaya 20-23 MYA , a forehand basin developed in south of it.
- Rise of Greater Himalaya also mark the onset of Monsoon which further intensified the process of erosion. Numerous rivers flowing from Greater Himalaya deposited the sediments that later uplifted/ thrust and resulted into hills. District is still a very active Depo Center, receiving sediments from all around.
Geologically rocks are classified in Sub Himalayan Sequence. Both Janauri Anticline and Bharwain Anticline represent the Upper Siwalik formation with loosely assembled rocks. Whereas Una syncline represent the Quaternary deposit.
