Geography of Thane, Weather of Thane, Climate of Thane

Thane district is the northernmost part of the Konkan lowlands of Maharashtra. It includes the wide amphitheatre like Ulhas basin on the south and hilly Vaitama valley on the north with plateaus and the slopes of the region Sahyadri. From the steep slopes of the Sahyadri in the east, the land falls through a succession of plateaus in the north and centre of the district to the Ulhas valley in the south. These lowlands are separated from the coast by a narrow ridge of hills that runs north-south to the east of the Thane creek, parallel to the sea, keeping a distance of about 6 to 10 km from the shores.

The two main rivers flowing through the district are the Ulhas and the Vaitarna. The Ulhas originates from the north of Tungarli near Lonavala, and flows to Bhor ghat and meets the sea at Vasai creek. Ulhas River is 135 km long with two important tributaries being Barvi and Bhatsa. Vaitarna, the largest of Konkan Rivers rises in the Tryambak hills in Nashik district, opposite to the source of Godavari, The river flows across Shahapur, Vada and Palghar talukas and enter the Arabian Sea through a wide estuary off Arnala.

Vaitarna River is 154 km long.It has a number of tributaries; the most important of them are Pinjal, Surya, Daherja and Tansa. Many small creeks are found all along the western coast.The bigger creeks are Bhiwandi, Chinchani, and Dahanu creeks. The Thane creek is not a creek in the true sense, but a depression engulfed by the sea. The northern part of the Salsette Island is part of Thane district. Arnala Island is located in Vasai taluka, at the entrance to the Vaitarna estuary. The district has no natural lakes. Artificial lakes have been constructed mainly to supply drinking water to Mumbai.

Climate of Thane

There are two distinct climates in the district, one on the western coastal plains and the other on the eastern slopes of Sahyadri. The climate on the western coastal plains of Thane, Vasai, Palghar and Dahanu talukas is tropical, very humid and warm. The climate on the plains at the foot of the slopes and on the eastern slopes of Sahyadri is comparatively less humid. The temperature variation is more in the eastern part of the district comparing to the western coastal areas.

October and November months constitute the post-monsoon season, which is hot and humid in the coastal areas.

In the coastal area, the average daily maximum temperature in summer is 32.9°C and in winter average mean daily minimum temperature is 16.8°C. But in the interior parts of the district, the average daily minimum temperature is slightly lower in the winter season and the average daily maximum temperature is higher in the summer.The average annual rainfall in the district is 2293.4 mm. The rainfall in the district increases from the coastal areas to the interior. The rainfall during the southwest monsoon season, June to September, constitutes about 94% of the annual rainfall. July is the wettest month with a rainfall of about 40% of the annual total. The variation in the annual rainfall from year to year in the district is not large.

Physical Features of Thane

Damanganga river upto Bhugad dam site

The catchment area of Damanganga basin upto Bhugad dam site in 729 sq km. The length of river upto Bhugad dam site is 55 km. Dawan and Shrimant are the principal tributaries joining Damanganga upto the proposed dam site. The river Damanganga forms boundary between Gujarat and Maharashtra .At Bhugad dam site, the Damanganga river flows through a well defined channel with a change in direction from North-East to South-South West. The reservoir area lies in Dharampur taluka of Valsad district of Gujarat State and in Peint taluka of Nasik district of Maharashtra State.

Pinjal Dam

The proposed Pinjal dam is located across Pinjal river near village Khidse in Jawhar taluka of Thane district of Maharashtra State. The area around the proposed dam site is bounded by high hills of the western ghats rising to an elevation of 243 m. The Pinjal river originates at an elevation of 1245 m above MSL It has a meandering course in the 2 south-west upto its confluence with the Vaitarna river about one km north-west of Alman

Proposed Tunnels in Thane district

Bhugad-Khargihill tunnel

Khargihill-Pinjal link tunnel

Dams and Canals In Thane

Barvi Dam

Bhatsa Dam

Kurje Dam

Tansa dam

Dhamni Dam

Modak Sagar

Wandri Dam