Western and Eastern Ghats

Western and Eastern Ghats

The Western and Eastern Ghats, which run parallel to the coastline, experience challenges such as landslides and droughts, particularly in the rain shadow regions. The Western Ghats stretch from the Satpura Range in the north, passing through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Recognized as one of the 33 ecologically sensitive zones globally, the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills, despite being geologically stable, are susceptible to landslides during the monsoon season.

Environmental concerns such as population pressure, illegal mining, quarrying, and deforestation have increased the vulnerability of both the Western and Eastern Ghats to natural disasters.

Unlike the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats do not form a continuous range of escarpments, and cliffs are largely absent. Instead, the range is fragmented into separate circumdenudation hills.

The only prominent mountainous region in the Eastern Ghats is in Odisha. Rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna have carved gaps through the range, disrupting its continuity. Additionally, the Eastern Ghats are positioned farther from the coastline compared to the Western Ghats.

Running parallel to the Bay of Bengal, the Eastern Ghats have the Deccan Plateau to their west, lying between them and the Western Ghats.

The coastal plains, including the Coromandel Coast, stretch between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. Unlike the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats are lower in elevation and are characterized by geological features such as thrusts and strike-slip faults