Kathiawar Peninsula

Kathiawar Peninsula

Peninsula, southwestern Gujarat state, west-central India. Occupying an area of about 23,000 sq mi (60,000 sq km), it is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the southwest. It was first occupied in prehistoric times and was settled in the 3rd millennium BC by Harappan peoples. It was ruled by many great dynasties beginning with the Mauryan empire in the 3rd century BC. The area was invaded by Muslims in the 11th century and became part of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. Many of its small princely states came under British protection after 1820. Made a part of Gujarat state in 1960, it is the site of a national park that contains the last wild Asiatic lions in India.

---

Kathiawar Peninsula 

a peninsula in western India between the gulfs of Khambhat and Kutch in the Arabian Sea. In the north, the peninsula adjoins the Rann of Kutch. The peninsula has an area of more than 40, 000 sq km. In the center of the Kathiawar Peninsula are plateau-like elevations and mountains (up to 1, 117 m in elevation), composed predominantly of basalts and gneisses. Along the borders there is a zone of alluvial low-lands (up to 100 km wide). Precipitation is about 500 mm annually (maximum in the summer). There are savannas, sparse forests, and thorn scrub. In the south of the Kathiawar Peninsulathe Asiatic lion is found (the only place in Asia). The cities of Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Bhaunagar are located on the Kathiawar Peninsula.