Vizianagaram district is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated within the geographical co-ordinates of 17 degrees 15 min and 19 degrees 15 min of the Northern latitude, and 83 degrees 00 min and 83 degrees 45 min of the Eastern longitude. The District is bounded on the East by Srikakulam District on the West and South by Visakhapatnam District, on the South-East by the Bay of Bengal and North West by Orissa State.
Vizianagaram district extends over an area of 6,539 Sq. Kms with a density of 343 per Sq. Km covering 1,551 villages, out of which 66 are uninhabited. The areas transferred from Visakhapatnam district are mostly picturesque especially in the north. The agency track mostly consists of the hilly regions covered by the Eastern Ghats mountain range which run parallel to the coast from the North-East to the South-West. The average height of these hills is over 914 metres, although there are several peaks of even 1,219 metres high. The principal rivers flowing in the district are Nagavali, Vegavathi, Gomukhi, Suvarnamukhi, Champavathi and Gostani. The Nagavali is the main river, which flows in about 112 Km in Vizianagaram district covering an ayacut of 2,832 Hectares. The river Gosthani has its origin in Anantagiri forest area and flows through S.Kota and Jami mandals. The Suvarnamukhi River takes its birth in the hills of Saluru mandal and takes an eastern direction and finally joins the Nagavali at Sangam village in Palakonda mandal of Srikakulam District. Vegavathi originates in pachipenta hills of Pachipenta Mandal and flows almost parallel to Suvarnamukhi covering an ayacut of 2,428 Hectares.
The climate of Vizianagaram district is characterised by a very high level of humidity nearly all the year round with oppressive summer and good seasonal rainfall. The summer season is from March to May. This is followed by the South-West monsoon season, which continues up to September. October and November constitute the post monsoon or retreating monsoon season. December to February is the season of generally fine weather. The climate of the hill parts of the district is different from that of the plain.
The normal rainfall of the district for the year is 1,131.0 mm. The district gets the benefit of both the South-West and North-East monsoon.
The flora found in the forests of the district is of much interest. The forest types found in the district are Southern tropical moist mixed deciduous forests, Northern tropical dry deciduous forests, Southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forests, Dry deciduous green forests and Dry Evergreen forests. Forestry plays an important role in the economy of the district. Fauna in the district is fairly high in the interior hill regions, but it is heavily threatened with extinction. The reasons for the depletion are mainly shrinkage of habitant and uncontrolled poaching. The principal animals and birds found from the seacoast to high plateau are yellow bat, Sloth bear, Wild buffaloes, Fox, Hare, Hyena, Jackal, Mongoose and birds like the Blue rock pigeon, House crow, House sparrow, Common myna Pitta etc. Consequent to the enactment of the wild life protection act of 1972, it is hoped that wild life would improve and attain the past glory.
The main soils in the district are red soils, sandy loams and sandy clay and they constitute 96 percent of the total area. The soils in the district are predominantly loamy with medium fertility. There are mostly red loamy soils, as far as dry lands are concerned and clay loamy in case of wet lands.
There a number of medium irrigation projects, irrigating an area of about 43, 984 hectares in the district. These are the Thatipudi reservoir, Vegavathi Project, Vattigedda Project, Nagavali right and left side channels, Pedankalam Anicut, Seethanagaram Anicut, Denkada Anicut, Paradhi Anicut, Surapadu Anicut, Vengalarayasagar Project, Andra project.
