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Chennai

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Chennai is a large and busy city in India.

Chennai 80.26884E 13.04434N
Chennai 80.26884E 13.04434N

It is the capital of the southernmost state called Tamil Nadu. You can find it sitting on the Coromandel Coast. This coast meets the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Chennai District
Chennai District

The city is very big and has many people living there. It is the sixth-most-populous city in all of India. Some people call it the gateway to South India. Many tourists visit the city to see its famous sights.

The land in Chennai is mostly flat and low.

Chitlapakkam-lake-chennai-7-r
Chitlapakkam-lake-chennai-7-r

Most of the ground is made of clay and sandstone. Two main rivers flow through the city area. The Cooum River runs through the center of the city. The Adyar River flows through the southern part.

Chembarambakkam Lake - September 2018
Chembarambakkam Lake - September 2018

There are also many lakes and wetlands nearby. These water areas help provide water for the people. They also create homes for many different living things.

Chennai has a very long and interesting history.

Fort St. George, Chennai
Fort St. George, Chennai

Long ago, many different kingdoms ruled this coastal region. These included the Chola, Pandya, and Pallava kingdoms. In the 17th century, the British East India Company arrived. They bought land from a local ruler named Chennappa Nayaka.

Madras (Baedeker, 1914)
Madras (Baedeker, 1914)

The British built Fort St. George as their first fortress. This fort became the heart of the growing city. The city was once known by the name Madras.

Today, the city is a very important place for work.

ALCOB Ashok Leyland Corporate Building in Guindy, Chennai
ALCOB Ashok Leyland Corporate Building in Guindy, Chennai

It is a major center for making many different cars. Because of this, people call it the "Detroit of India."

GovernmentHospitalChennai
GovernmentHospitalChennai

Chennai is also famous for its medical care and hospitals. It is often called "India's health capital" by many. The city is also a huge center for making films. These films are made in the Tamil language. It is a very lively place to live and work.

Nature also plays a big part in the city.

GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam
GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam

Many beautiful birds live in the marshy wetlands. You might see greater flamingos visiting during the winter.

GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam
GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam

On the southern coast, sea turtles come to visit too. Endangered olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs there.

Tiruvallikeni1
Tiruvallikeni1

The weather stays warm because the city is near the equator. Most of the rain comes during the monsoon season. This rain is very important for the city's water. It keeps the plants and animals healthy and happy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (37)
File:Fort St. George, Chennai.jpg
Fort St. George, Chennai.jpg
File:Madras (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
Madras (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
File:Chennai 80.26884E 13.04434N.jpg
Chennai 80.26884E 13.04434N.jpg
File:GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam.jpg
GreaterFlamingo-Mudaliarkuppam.jpg
File:Chitlapakkam-lake-chennai-7-r.jpg
Chitlapakkam-lake-chennai-7-r.jpg
File:Chennai District.png
Chennai District.png
File:Chennai High Court.jpg
Chennai High Court.jpg
File:Gcp patrol car.jpg
Gcp patrol car.jpg
File:Fort St. George, Chennai 2.jpg
Fort St. George, Chennai 2.jpg
File:Tiruvallikeni1.jpg
Tiruvallikeni1.jpg
File:Parrys Corner, Chennai, India.jpg
Parrys Corner, Chennai, India.jpg
File:LIC_building.jpg
LIC_building.jpg

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