Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 53,566 square kilometers, of which 93% is mountainous and 64% is covered by forest.

Uttarakhand lies on the southern slope of the Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations.

Two of India`s largest rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna originate in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and streams in the region.