Located in a transitional zone between the
Malwa plateau and the
Gangetic plain in Upper (Northern)
Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior district consists of several distinct geographical areas. North and east of Gwalior city there is a broad alluvial plain, mostly flat and covered in
dumat,
parua, and
kabar soils. The central part of the district, around Gwalior, is somewhat hilly, with
sandstone outcrops that have often served as a source for building materials. These hills represent an extension of the
Vindhyas, and their soil is often poorly suited for agriculture except in valleys and depressions. The average height of this hilly tract is about 80 feet above sea level. In the west is a plateau region, representing an extension of the Malwa plateau. This area is also hilly and some of it is covered by forests. The highest points are at
Tor hill (at 1,454 feet above sea level) in the
Sirkoli forest and
Din hill (1,420 feet) in
Rehat reserve forest. The
Sind is the main river in Gwalior district. It begins in
Vidisha district and then enters the southern plains of Gwalior at around 25°47' N. Much of the southeastern part of Gwalior district is an alluvial plain around the Sind and its tributaries. Other rivers that traverse the district include the
Sank,
Sonrekha,
Morar,
Vaishali,
Nun,
Chachond, and
Asan. Because of the porous soil, all the rivers have eroded their banks to create ravines along their sides. This is more pronounced in the northern plain, and especially along the upper Vaishali river. Other rivers in the north include the Sank, Sonrekha, and
Maran rivers. The
Parbati river, which originates in
Shivpuri district, forms the boundary for part of Gwalior district before crossing through the southern part of the district and then joining the Sind at
Pawaya.
Climate In the summer season the climate is very hot, the shade temperature rising frequently to around 44 °C (112 °F), but in the winter months (from November to February inclusive) it is usually temperate and for short periods extremely cold.
Wildlife Because of the prevailing dry climate in the area and the generally hard, shallow soil, Gwalior district does not have particularly dense vegetation. There are some forests in hilly areas, but the trees are somewhat stunted and not very large. Tree types include
dho, kardhai, tendu (
Diospyros melanoxylon, khair (
Acacia catechu), salai (
Boswellia serrata), ber (
Ziziphus mauritiana), chhola (
Butea monosperma), jamrasi (
Elaeodendron glaucum), and
reenjee, along with semal (
Salmalia malabaricum), kareh (
Sterculia urens), bhilwa (
Semecarpus anacardium), babool (
Acacia arbica), and
teak (
Tectona grandis). In some areas, there is little vegetation at all, with only sporadic, stunted plants such as
siari, ber, and chhola. Gwalior district has a diverse animal population, particularly in the forested areas. Prominent birds native to the area include the
grey partridge, the
snipe, and the
peafowl. Mammals include
leopards,
cheetahs,
bears,
lakkarbaghas,
deer,
neelgai,
rabbits, and
monkeys. Various fish species are found in bodies of water in Gwalior district. The
mahseer is a common fish, often found in rocky rivers as well as the
Sank,
Asan,
Parbhati, and
Sind rivers. Among the
Labeo group, the
rohu and
kalbasus are commonly found in the Sank and Asan rivers.
Murrels and
mullets are found in practically every body of running water, and a variety of the
Indian trout is found in the
Morar river.
Freshwater shark are also common, especially in the Tigra and
Pagara tanks. Other common fishes include the
katla and the
tengra. ==Divisions==