Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR)

About Ranthambore Tiger Reserve: 

• It lies on the junction of Aravalis and Vindhyan ranges in Eastern Rajasthan.
• It is one of the largest tiger reserves in northern India.
• It was once a royal hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. 
• The scenery changes significantly from the gentle and steep slopes of the Vindhyas to the sharp and conical hills of the Aravali valley. 
• The Rivers Chambal in the south and the Banas River in the north bound the tiger reserve.
• The reserve is dotted with steep rocky hills, and the dominant architecture of Ranthambor Fort (built in the 10th era and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) adds to its landscape.
• A major environmental feature is the 'Great Boundary Fault’where the Vindhyas plateau meets the Aravali range. 
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous and tropical thorn type.
• Flora: Pure sands of Dhok tree (Anogeissus pendula) interspersed with grasslands at the plateaus; meadows in valleys and luxuriant foliage around the canals make the jungle.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, wild boar, sloth bear, striped hyena, rhesus macaque etc are found here.

Q1: Where is Aravalli Range?

Aravalli Range is a mountain range located in northwestern India. It is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world.It runs approximately 670 km (430 mi) in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.

News:A third of Ranthambore’s 75 tigers ‘missing’, Rajasthan sets up probe committee