ZONHEBOTO

town, administrative headquarters of Zonheboto district, Nagaland state, northeastern India. Formerly in the Mokokchung subdivision, it is situated 41 mi (66 km) northeast of Kohima town. The town has some cottage industries. Zonheboto district (about 500 sq mi [1,300 sq km]) was separated from Mokokchung district in 1973 and is located in the central part of the state. It is bounded by Mokokchung district on the north, Tuensang district on the east, Phek district on the south, and Kohima and Wokha districts on the west. The region is crisscrossed by several faults and is subject to earthquakes. It is hilly and rugged, with an average elevation of from 2,000 ft (600 m) to 3,000 ft. The hills are covered with dense forests of oak, chestnut, birch, and bamboo. The Laniye and the Dikhu, the major rivers, are aligned in a northsouth direction and flow through narrow valleys. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy; shifting cultivation is practiced, and crops include rice, ginger, yams, cotton, corn (maize), potatoes, fruits, sesame, and sugarcane. Pigs and poultry are raised. Cottage industries consist of weaving and dyeing; working of cane, bamboo, and wood; and pottery making. Timber is seasoned, and there are tufa lime and coal deposits in the district. Its ethnic people are mentioned in Sanskrit literature as the Kirat; today the Angami, Rengma, Chakhesang, and Zeliang peoples inhabit the district. Transportation by road is difficult because of the terrain. Pop. (1981) town, 7,678; district, 61,161.