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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
[[File:Chennai.satmap.annotated.jpg|thumb|220px|Chennai is situated on a flat [[coastal plain]], as can be seen in this [[Landsat 7]] map.]]

[[Chennai]] is located at {{Coord|13.04|N|80.17|E|}} on the southeast coast of India and in the northeast corner of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is located on a flat coastal plain known as the [[Eastern Coastal Plains]]. The city has an average elevation of {{convert|6|m|ft}}, its highest point being {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

[[File:Madras surroundings.png|thumb|220px|Chennai and surrounding towns]]

==Geology==

The [[geology]] of Chennai comprises mostly [[clay]], [[shale]] and [[sandstone]].<ref name=rainwaterharvesting.org>{{cite web | title=Practices and Practitioners – Chennai | work=Rainwater harvesting| url=http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Urban/Practices-and-practitioners.htm| access-date=5 August 2005 }}</ref> The city is classified into three regions based on geology, sandy areas, clayey areas and hard-rock areas. Sandy areas are found along the river banks and the coasts. Clayey regions cover most of the city. Hard rock areas are [[Guindy]], [[Velachery]], [[Adambakkam]] and a part of [[Saidapet]].<ref name=rain_water_harvesting_TN_gov>{{cite web|title=A ready reckoner on rainwater harvesting |work=Govt. of Tamil Nadu / New Indian Express |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/pressclippings/archives/pc2003/newindpress/newindpress11082003.htm |access-date=5 August 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623074539/http://www.tn.gov.in/pressclippings/archives/pc2003/newindpress/newindpress11082003.htm |archive-date=23 June 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In sandy areas such as Tiruvanmiyur, Adyar, Kottivakkam, Santhome, George Town, [[Tondiarpet]] and the rest of coastal Chennai, rainwater run-off percolates very quickly. In clayey and hard rock areas, rainwater percolates slowly, but it is held by the soil for a longer time. The city's clayey areas include [[T. Nagar]], [[West Mambalam]], [[Anna Nagar]], [[Perambur]] and [[Virugambakkam]]. The geology of the Chennai city and its surroundings derived from the map of the Geological Survey of India is shown in figure<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suganthi|url=https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/rt/printerFriendly/34011/44761|access-date=2020-07-30|website=revistas.unal.edu.co}}</ref>
[[File:Geology of Chennai.jpg|alt=Chennai's Geology and its surroundings after GSI|thumb|Geology of Chennai and surroundings (after GSI)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suganthi|url=https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/rt/printerFriendly/34011/44761|access-date=2020-07-30|website=revistas.unal.edu.co}}</ref>]]

==Climate==
Chennai features a [[tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry climate]]. Chennai lies on the [[thermal equator]] and is also coastal, which prevents extreme variation in seasonal temperature. For most of the year, the weather is hot and [[humidity|humid]]. The hottest part of the year is late May and early June, known locally as ''Agni Nakshatram'' ("fiery star") or as ''Kathiri Veyyil'', with maximum temperatures around {{convert|38|–|42|C|F|lk=on}}. The coolest part of the year is January, with minimum temperatures around {{convert|18|–|20|C|F}}. The lowest temperature recorded is {{convert|13.9|°C|°F|abbr=on}} and highest {{convert|45|°C|°F|abbr=on}}(30 May 2003).<ref name=Singapore-temp>{{cite web|title=Climate of India |work=National Environment Agency – Singapore |url=http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1111 |access-date=4 August 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006131405/http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1111 |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref><ref name=hightemp>{{cite news| title=Highest temperature| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/05/31/stories/2003053104790101.htm| publisher=The Hindu| date=31 May 2003| access-date=2007-04-25| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711171303/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/05/31/stories/2003053104790101.htm| archive-date=11 July 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The average annual [[rainfall]] is about {{convert|1400|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The city gets most of its [[season]]al rainfall from the north-east [[monsoon]] winds, from mid-September to mid-December. [[Cyclone]]s in the Bay of Bengal sometimes hit the city. Highest annual rainfall recorded is 2,570 mm in 2005.<ref>{{cite news| title = Entering 2006, city's reservoirs filled to the brim | author = T. Ramakrishnan | url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010315310300.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070228083427/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010315310300.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 February 2007 | date = 3 January 2006 | work = [[The Hindu]] | access-date = 2007-05-04}}</ref> The most prevailing winds in Chennai is the Southwesterly between the end of May to end of September and the Northeasterly during the rest of the year.
<section begin=weatherbox />{{Weather box|width=auto
|location={{align|left|{{ed|:Geography of Chennai}}}} Chennai, India ([[Nungambakkam]]) 1981–2010, extremes 1901–2012
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 34.4
| Feb record high C = 36.7
| Mar record high C = 40.6
| Apr record high C = 42.8
| May record high C = 45.0
| Jun record high C = 43.3
| Jul record high C = 41.1
| Aug record high C = 40.0
| Sep record high C = 38.9
| Oct record high C = 39.4
| Nov record high C = 35.4
| Dec record high C = 33.0
|year record high C = 45.0
| Jan high C = 29.3
| Feb high C = 30.9
| Mar high C = 32.9
| Apr high C = 34.5
| May high C = 37.1
| Jun high C = 37.0
| Jul high C = 35.3
| Aug high C = 34.7
| Sep high C = 34.2
| Oct high C = 32.1
| Nov high C = 29.9
| Dec high C = 28.9
| year high C = 33.1
| Jan mean C = 25.2
| Feb mean C = 26.6
| Mar mean C = 28.7
| Apr mean C = 30.9
| May mean C = 32.9
| Jun mean C = 32.4
| Jul mean C = 30.9
| Aug mean C = 30.3
| Sep mean C = 29.8
| Oct mean C = 28.4
| Nov mean C = 26.5
| Dec mean C = 25.3
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 21.2
| Feb low C = 22.2
| Mar low C = 24.2
| Apr low C = 26.6
| May low C = 28.0
| Jun low C = 27.5
| Jul low C = 26.4
| Aug low C = 25.9
| Sep low C = 25.6
| Oct low C = 24.6
| Nov low C = 23.1
| Dec low C = 21.9
|year low C = 24.8
| Jan record low C = 13.9
| Feb record low C = 15.0
| Mar record low C = 16.7
| Apr record low C = 20.0
| May record low C = 21.1
| Jun record low C = 20.6
| Jul record low C = 21.0
| Aug record low C = 20.5
| Sep record low C = 20.6
| Oct record low C = 16.7
| Nov record low C = 15.0
| Dec record low C = 13.9
|year record low C = 13.9
|rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 25.9
| Feb rain mm = 3.4
| Mar rain mm = 3.5
| Apr rain mm = 14.4
| May rain mm = 34.2
| Jun rain mm = 55.8
| Jul rain mm = 103.8
| Aug rain mm = 126.8
| Sep rain mm = 147.7
| Oct rain mm = 315.6
| Nov rain mm = 399.9
| Dec rain mm = 177.4
|year rain mm = 1382.9
| Jan rain days = 1.4
| Feb rain days = 0.8
| Mar rain days = 0.3
| Apr rain days = 0.8
| May rain days = 1.8
| Jun rain days = 4.0
| Jul rain days = 6.5
| Aug rain days = 7.7
| Sep rain days = 7.3
| Oct rain days = 10.9
| Nov rain days = 11.5
| Dec rain days = 5.8
|year rain days = 58.8
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 67
| Feb humidity = 66
| Mar humidity = 67
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 68
| Jun humidity = 63
| Jul humidity = 65
| Aug humidity = 66
| Sep humidity = 71
| Oct humidity = 76
| Nov humidity = 76
| Dec humidity = 71
|year humidity = 69
| Jan sun = 232.5
| Feb sun = 240.1
| Mar sun = 291.4
| Apr sun = 294.0
| May sun = 300.7
| Jun sun = 234.0
| Jul sun = 142.6
| Aug sun = 189.1
| Sep sun = 195.0
| Oct sun = 257.3
| Nov sun = 261.0
| Dec sun = 210.8
|year sun =
| Jand sun = 7.5
| Febd sun = 8.5
| Mard sun = 9.4
| Aprd sun = 9.8
| Mayd sun = 9.7
| Jund sun = 7.8
| Juld sun = 4.6
| Augd sun = 6.1
| Sepd sun = 6.5
| Octd sun = 8.3
| Novd sun = 8.7
| Decd sun = 6.8
|yeard sun = 7.8
| source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]] (sun 1971–2000)<ref name=IMDnormals>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Chennai (Nungambakkam) Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 185–186
| access-date = 2 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M192
| access-date = 2 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDsun>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042602/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| title = Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India
| work = Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M-3
| access-date = 2 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDcityweather>
{{cite web
| url = http://city.imd.gov.in/citywx/extreme/MAR/chennai2.htm
| title = Chennai Climatological Table 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = 2 March 2020}}</ref>
| source 2 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43279 |title=Normals Data|publisher= Japan Meteorological Agency |access-date=May 11, 2020 }}</ref>
}}
<section end=weatherbox />

==Water bodies==
{{See also|Flora and fauna of Chennai}}
Two rivers meander through Chennai, the [[Cooum River]] (or ''Koovam'') in the central region and the [[Adyar River]] in the southern region. Both rivers are heavily polluted with effluents and trash from domestic and commercial sources. The Adyar, which is much less polluted than the Cooum, is de-silted and cleaned periodically by the state government. A protected [[estuary]] of the Adyar forms the natural habitat of several species of birds and animals. The [[Buckingham Canal]], {{convert|4|km|mi|abbr=on}} inland, travels parallel to the coast, linking the two rivers. The [[Otteri Nullah]], an east–west stream runs through north Chennai and meets the Buckingham Canal at [[Basin Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lifeinchennai.com/chennai_geography.htm
|title=Chennai|publisher=lifeinchennai.com|access-date=2009-07-27}}</ref> Several lakes of varying size are located on the western fringes of the city. [[Red Hills Lake|Red Hills]], [[Sholavaram Lake|Sholavaram]] and [[Chembarambakkam Lake]] supply Chennai with [[potable water]]. [[Groundwater]] sources are mostly [[brackish]]. A study by the Department of Geology, Anna University, based on a city map of 1893, has revealed that there were nearly 60 large waterbodies in the core of then Madras.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lakshmi|first=K.|date=2018-04-01|title=The vanishing waterbodies of Chennai|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-vanishing-waterbodies-of-chennai/article23404437.ece|access-date=2020-07-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The study traced the shrinking and vanished waterbodies through a series of city maps.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lakshmi|first=K.|date=2018-04-01|title=The vanishing waterbodies of Chennai|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-vanishing-waterbodies-of-chennai/article23404437.ece|access-date=2020-07-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Historically, Chennai has faced a problem of water supply shortages as no big river flows through it with a resulting over-reliance on annual [[monsoon]] rains to replenish water [[reservoir (water)|reservoirs]]. The city's ground water levels have been depleted to very low levels in many areas. Many residents buy their drinking water. An earlier [[Veeranam]] project was unsuccessful in solving the city's water supply shortages, but the New Veeranam project which became operational in September 2004 has greatly reduced dependency on distant sources.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chennai Water Supply |work=Management of water supply during acute water scarcity in 2003 & 2004 |publisher=Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) |url=http://www.chennaimetrowater.com/engg/operationmaintenance/cmwdrw04.htm |access-date=2007-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812071544/http://www.chennaimetrowater.com/engg/operationmaintenance/cmwdrw04.htm |archive-date=2007-08-12 }}</ref> In recent years however, due to heavy and consistent monsoon rains and the implementation of [[rainwater harvesting]] (RWH) techniques by Chennai Metrowater at their [[Anna Nagar]] Rain Centre, [[water scarcity|water shortages]] have been reduced significantly, and this has led Chennai to be a model of RWH technology for other cities.<ref name=hindu1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071001015212/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/03/stories/2007080360510500.htm "Bangalore team visits RWH structures in city", ''The Hindu'', 3 August 2007, accessed 11 August 2007]</ref> Moreover, newer projects like the [[Telugu Ganga]] canal project that brings water from water-surplus rivers like the [[Krishna river]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] have eased water supply shortages. The city is also constructing sea water [[desalination]] plants to further ease water supply shortages.

==Layout==
{{See also|List of neighbourhoods in Chennai}}

For administrative purposes Chennai is divided into five [[taluka]]s; namely Egmore-Nungambakam, Fort Tondiarpet, Mambalam-Guindy, Mylapore-Triplicane and Perambur-Purasawalkkam.

The Chennai Metropolitan area consists of three districts namely Chennai city and the districts of [[Kanchipuram District|Kanchipuram]] and [[Thiruvallur District|Thiruvallur]]. The city area covers an area of {{convert|476|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=cityarea>{{cite web | title= General statistics | work=Corporation of Chennai | url=http://www.chennaicorporation.com/general_stats.htm| access-date=4 August 2005 }}</ref> The metropolitan area covers 1,177 km<sup>2</sup> (455 sq mi). The city is divided on the basis of composition into four major parts: North, Central, South and West.

North Chennai is primarily an industrial area. Central Chennai is the commercial heart of the city and the downtown area. South Chennai and West Chennai, previously predominantly residential areas are fast turning into commercial areas, hosting a large number of [[Information Technology|IT]] and [[financial]] companies. The city is fast expanding along the [[Old Mahabalipuram Road]], GST Road, [[Sriperumbdur]], Koyambedu and [[Ambattur]].

The [[Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority]] has drafted a Second Master Plan for Chennai, that aims to develop a satellite townships around the city. Contiguous satellite towns include [[Mahabalipuram]] to the south, [[Chengalpattu]] and Maraimalai Nagar to the south west, [[Kanchipuram]] town, [[Sriperumpudur]], [[Tiruvallur]] and [[Arakkonam]] to the west.

==References==
{{Portal|India|Geography}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Chennai Topics}}

[[Category:Geography of Chennai| ]]

Geography of Chennai - Revision history

>Ssbbplayer: /* Climate */ remove whitespace