Coimbatore district is richly endowed with hills, forests, rivers and wildlife. The Western Ghats of the district are the home of rivers such as Bhavani, Noyyal River, Aliyar, Siruvani which provide the drinking water and irrigation water for the people and farmers of Coimbatore. The forests of Coimbatore district spread over an area of 693.48 km2 against district area of 7433.72 km2. The forests are responsible for the cool weather, the green landscape and clean air of the district. The forest tract falls between 10°37' and 11°31' North latitudes and 76°39' and 77°5' East longitudes. The greater part of the Coimbatore forest division is situated in southward extending Western Gnats, with the North-western parts forming the lower Ranges of the Nilgiris. The Coimbatore forest division is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) and also forms part of the Core Zone of the NBR.