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Wayanad District is in the north-east of Kerala, India, was
formed on November 1, 1980 as the 12th district, carved out of
Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Though the etymology of the word
Wayanad is popularly known to be Vayal (paddy) NiCad (land);
'Land of Paddy Fields', the scholars disagree. The region was
known as Mayakshetra (Maya's land) in the earliest records.
Mayakshetra evolved into Mayanad and finally to Wayanad. There
are many indigenous tribals in this area. It is set high on the
majestic Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100
m. The district is going through its worst agrarian crisis.
Wayanad district stands on the southern top of the Deccan
plateau and its chief glory is the majestic Western ghats with
lofty ridges interspersed with dense forest, tangled jungles and
deep valleys, the terrain is rugged. Quite a large area of the
district is covered by forest but the continued and
indiscriminate exploitation of the natural resources point
towards an imminent environmental crisis.
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