Kerala is wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats.
Lying between north latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' and east longitudes 74°52' and 77°22', Kerala experiences the humid equatorial tropic climate.
The state has a coast of length 590 km (367 mi) and the width of the state varies between 35 and 120 km (22–75 miles). Located at the extreme southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kerala lies near the centre of the Indian tectonic plate; hence, most of the state is subject to comparatively little seismic and volcanic activity. Pre-Cambrian and Pleistocene geological formations compose the bulk of Kerala’s terrain.
Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions:
- The eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain)
- The central midlands (rolling hills)
- The western lowlands (coastal plains)
The Western Ghats rises on average to 1,500 m (4920 ft) above sea level, while the highest peaks may reach to 2,500 m (8200 ft).
Anamudi is the highest peak at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,130 ft).