MAJULI ISLAND - WORD'S BIGGEST RIVER MADE ISLAND IN BRAHMPUTRA

Majuli Island - Mājuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and in 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. It had an area of 880 square kilometres (340 sq mi) at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion it covers 352 square kilometres (136 sq mi) as at 2014. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. Majuli is currently listed as the world's largest river island in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Location map of Majuli island in Brahmputra river

The island is formed by the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north. Mājuli island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat. The island is about 300–400 kilometres (186–249 mi) east from the state's largest city —Guwahati. It was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly the Lohit. 

A subsidiary khal (small drainage) in Majuli island meeting with Brahmputra river

          A paddy field with a boat route

Marshy lands located in Majuli island

Journey Diary: Within the meantime of of annual conference of NAGI (National Association, Geographers of India) in RGU (Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh), we decided to go Majuli island; for this purpose we reserved a 10 seater vehicle. On 30 October, 2018 in the early morning around 5:30 am we started our journey for Majuli island (distance is almost 75 km) and after 3 hours near about 8:30 am we arrived in Majuli island. 

Route map from Rono Hills (RGU Campus), Itanagar to Majuli island

Swampy and marshy land surface begins to visible everywhere, there were numbers of small drainage system developed inward in the Majuli island from Brahmputra river master stream. Thus, were there in post Monsoon season, therefore their is very less chances for sudden flood or water lock event. 

Actually in our mind with the name of any 'island' we just start to imagine any land mass which is surrounded by water mass, but in case of Majuli island which is extended over an area of 352 sq. km possesses huge flora and fauna as well as human population (1.67 lakh). Therefore, Majuli have a Vidhansabha's M.L.A. seat. 

Handloom (traditional Cloth making tools) is another characteristics of Majuli; we seen in many house they have been equipped with proper traditional handloom machine, women wear traditional Assamiya saari made from their handloom. 

A traditional handloom made Sari wore by a Majuli women

Economic activities of the people: The economy of Majuli Island is agrarian. Agriculture along with its allied activities is the principal occupation of the people of Majuli Island. As high as around 80% of the overall population of the Majuli Island accrue their living from agriculture and its allied activities. Due to availability of marshy land and access of water resources paddy cultivation during Monsoon is the main agricultural product. Here in the below picture we can see a paddy field is surrounded by bamboo barriers and beside this field a pasturing field is also connected.  Animal husbandry is another parallel economic activities of local people. Cow, poultry, ducks, pigs are common cattles for extra income beside agriculture. Fishing is also extra activity for getting protein from fish. In below photo we can see a man carries about 15 feet long fishing rod. Govt. also supported to local population for enhancing their traditional skills such as poultry farming. 

     A paddy as well as pasturing field in the island 

                                                        Cow husbandry is another parallel occupation beside cultivation

    Duck farming is another subsidiary economic activities 

                                                A man carries a fishing rod probably for fishing in near swampy surface

    A poultry infants develop center in Majuli

Local resources for life subsidence: Bamboo is the main source of local building materials. Almost all kind of local needs such as basketing, building houses or any other crafts are made by bamboo. Elevated house using local available materials such as soil and bamboo is the main characteristics of local house building. During Monsoon season almost whole Majuli become flooded, water comes from main master stream of Brahmputra through different subsidiaries. Therefore, local people makes their housed elevated to protect from almost four month logged water from Monsoon rainfall. Wood is another resource which is basically use as fuel for cooking purpose in their kitchen. 

Stocks of bamboos which use as a building resources

Stocks of wood for fuel resources 

An elevated house (House elevated for the protection of flood water during Monsoon rainfall)

Education: Education is the basic need for a modern society, we seen many Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary and College level education institutions in Majuli island. 

A primary school namely "Shankardev Shishu Niketan" located in Fulni, Majuli

School students are going to their school

Transporting system: Waterway is the main transporting system in Majuli island. Aflamukh ferryghat in Majuli island which is well connected from Jorhat, Tejpur and Dibrughar cities located beside of Brahmputra river (all season transport means). All kind of goods and passengers boats run in this river route. Inland water way also developed in Majuli island, local people are generally use these small boats for movement in water and fishing purposes in all around the year. 

Brahmputra river and location of Aflamukh ferryghat in Majuli island

A Goods transportation boat is getting ready in Aflamukh ferryghat, Majuli

Small boat for using transportation in water ways

Commercial activities: Thus, Majuli island have lack of infrastructure regarding commercial hubs such as big cities or locations, therefore small shops related with daily uses are main commercial dependency for getting services and goods. These shops are located under poor building material made from bamboo and tins. 

A typical shop under bamboo and tin construction beside roads

Flora and Fauna in Majuli island: A wetland, Majuli is a hotspot for flora and fauna, harbouring many rare and endangered avifauna species including migratory birds that arrive in the winter season. Among the birds seen here are the greater adjutant stork, pelican, Siberian crane and the whistling teal. Hence, we reached here in October month which is post monsoon season, therefore we were not able to see any migratory birds. Some number of herons and other birds we were seen. 

A herons (Bagula) is busy in fishing

After successfully excursion as whole day in Majuli island we decided to go returen to Itanagar and therefore, around 6 pm after sunset we started to move for Itanagar and our beautiful marshland journey ended. At in the time of dinner (9:00 pm) we arrived to the University campus with bring awesome memories from the island. 

Suggestions for Tourists: Hence we want to suggest some suggestions for tourists who want to come and enjoy beautiful island. 

    1. Best months for visiting: October to March (one should to avoid Monsoon rainfall season)

    2. Thus, it is a swampy and marshy land humidity may remain on the maximum, so try to drink good amount of water.

   3. Their is lack of hotels (for lunch meal), so tourists are advice to keep breakfast or lunch with them.

    4. Local people are very good with behavior, try to behave politely.

    5.  If you want to purchase any local goods then try Handloom made Saries (it is a local symbol of tradition)

    6. Local water quality is very bad for drinking so try to keep a Gallon of drinking water too. 

     

The Geographia's YouTube channel - Majuli Island 

The Geographia's YouTube Channel - Aflamukh Ferry Ghat in Majuli

DESSIE BASIN, ETHIOPIA - THE MOTHER OF LANDSLIDES

 

Severe rainfall has been reported as the major cause for innumerable slope movements in the highlands and around the margins of the main rift valley of Ethiopia. The study area in this project includes the Dessie town situated in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. It is one of the most frequently affected towns by a landslide in the past several years. During July and August 2010 rainy season alone, it has been reported that 37 people were dead in this town, and their houses damaged because of intense rainfall and subsequent flooding and landslides. In addition, many bridges and roads (including the main road connecting the town with the surrounding regions) and other infrastructures were destroyed and an extensive mass of agricultural land devastated further north and south.

Dessie town where almost all town's geological condition is to shinking towards the mother of landslide

Dessie basin and town is an ideal place for both the theoretical and practical aspects of the Landslide understanding. This town is a home for above 205,000 inhabitants who live where there is a potential danger of landslide to occur. The 'Landsldie Mapping' training provided us the ability to identify areas susceptible to landslide and to map such areas. Although most of possible mitigations to landslide are expensive, we are able to know how the technical aspects can be implemented. We also recommend for establishment of office (advisory service) at Dessie town to provide technical information about the near future effects of landslide to administrators and people leaving in the area to protect residents.  

Group photography in the front of shinking site

In the background - Mother of landslide in Dessie town

A horizontal movement (landslide) scene in Dessie town

Verifying that how horizontal landslide broke the wall beside the river

Walking along the top of the mother of landslide in Dessie town

Giving instructions during the field work by Prof. Giando

The aim of the LANDMAP Dessie Excursion was to describe the landscape of Ethiopian plateau and mass movement in the Dessie area, to map and to interpret field observations in ArcGIS 9.3 within the context of sustainable hazard mitigation. Dessie landslide mapping and characterizing landslides and landforms associated with tectonic and fluvial landscapes. Through Dessie landsliding excursion we able to understand the field based methods of identifying and classifying landslides and landforms associated with fluvial, lacustrine and hillslope processes. Before going in the field study we properly understood it through aerial photographic interpretation and analysis and mapping geomorphological features using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Practical training was complimented by theoretical lectures relating to processes and drivers of landslide development and dynamics from experts in the field of landslide geomorphology, Giandomenico Fubelli (Prof. from Roma University, Italy) and Jan Moeyersons (Geomorphologists, Royal Museum, Portugal).  

We spent several days exploring the surroundings of Dessie, mapping landslides, fault scarps, terraces, alluvial fans and a number of other landforms. This was a great experience for me as I have never been in a graben, and a number of the landforms were new to me. Spending time in the field with the specialists taught me a lot about landscape interpretation and how to represent it accurately on a map. 

Almost all Dessie town is shinking towards mother of landslide site

Mother of Landslide in Dessie town

There was a lot of focus on the subtle differences between the various types of landslides, possible triggers and how they can be avoided. The mapping part of the exercise was challenging at times; looking at stereo aerial photographs, interpreting what was seen and what was noted in the field and transferring it accurately into a GIS. The exposure to open source GIS software was encouraging as it was just as effective, maybe even more user friendly than commercial packages. 

Different types of Landslides 

Different types of landslide

Different kind of landslide, which we seen in Dessie town during the field work

Landslide Mapping team enquiry about horizontal movement (creep) on the surface

A broader view of the piedmont of the river just came down from the area of the mother of landslide

Mother of landslide view in the background (also Dessie lacustrine deposits is visible with river)

Verifying the mother of landslide (top portion) by Landslide mapping team

During the field work in Dessie town (lateral slide)

Making an understanding over a gully development due to horizontal shifting (block slide) of the surface

Taking an overview over Dessie landslide (translational) area by our team

Cracks in the wall of a building is proof that horizontal movement (creeping) on the surface is going on

Horizontal movement in the surface resultant on the large level slope movement (creeping) in the foothills region

We would like to thank to International Association of Geomorphology (IAG) for sponsoring us to attend the training on Intensive Course on Landslide Geomorphology and Mapping (LANDMAP) and participate in the IAG Regional Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We thank also to Prof. Giandomenico Fubelli and Prof. Jan Moeyersons for their unreserved and dedicated lectures in class and fields on the Landslide Geomorphology and Mapping. Thus, We appreciate for those who select Dessie town to be the place for the course to be carried out. 

Certification ceremony by Association of Interanational Geomorphologists (AIG), in Gion Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Africa)

Various types of landslide understanding by video

Thanking you....