Kerala is located on the southwestern tip of India with the Arabian Sea on the west and Western Ghats towering 500-2700m on the east. The State is divided into three regions - the coastal lowlands, the fertile midlands and the highlands. The lowland of Kerala is a costal belt relatively flat and are networked by endless backwaters and the deltas of forty-four rivers. The midland is made up of undulating hills and valleys. This area is rich with cashew, coconut, arecanut, tapioca, banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and vegetable plantations. The forested high lands slope down from western ghats which rise to an avarage height of 900 meter with a number of peaks over 1500 meter in height. This is an area abound in tea, coffee, rubber and spice plantations and wildlife reserves.