COASTAL PLAINS AND ISLANDS

Submitted by:Saransh, Shrish, Sourabh, Teeksha,

Utkarsh, Vanshika, Varnika, Varshman, Vidushi (Roll No- 33 – 41)

Index Coastal Plains Formation Of Coastal Plains Various Physical Features Coasts In India Economic Value Of Coasts Major Tourists Attractions Islands Formation Of Islands Various Physical Features Islands in India Economic Value Of Islands Major Tourists Attractions

COASTAL PLAINS

• The low-lying flat land of coastal plains extends from large bodies of water and gently rises, continuing inland to higher terrain. These plains exist all around the world where sloping land meets the sea

or ocean.

Formation Of Coastal Plains

Coastal plains can form in two basic ways:Some start as a continental shelf, a flat piece of

land located below sea level. When the ocean level falls, the land is exposed, creating a coastal plain.

A coastal plain can also develop when river currents carry rock, soil and other sedimentary material into the ocean. Layers of this deposited sediment build up over time, creating a flat or gently sloping landscape.

Various Physical Features

• Coastal plains are a geologic feature found around the world and on both the eastern and western coasts of India. Coastal plains are characterized by an area of flat low lying land that is situated adjacent to a water body often a sea or ocean. It is also of note that coastal plains are separated from the interior of the larger land mass by other unique features. The coastal plains of India are relatively expansive regions which contribute significantly to the geography of the region.

Eastern Coast• The eastern coastal plains are located on a wide stretch of

land between the Eastern Ghats of India and the Bay of Bengal. This stretch of land stretches to 120 km in width at parts. The eastern coastal plains extend from Tamil Nadu in the south to West Bengal in the north. The eastern coastal plains have rivers draining into them and river deltas also occupy the valleys. The region of the eastern coastal plains is an expansive area and is divided into six regions. The six regions of the eastern coastal plains of India are the Mahanadi Delta, the Southern Andhra Pradesh Plain, the Krishna Godavari deltas, the Kanyakumari Coast, the Coromandel and the Sandy Coastal regions.

Western Coast• The western coastal plain of India in contrast to the eastern

coastal plain is located on a narrow strip of land. The western coastal plains are located in the west of India between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. They extend from Gujarat in the north down 50 km to the south in Kerala and are characterized by numerous backwaters and rivers that flow into the region. These rivers that flow into the region lead to the forming of estuaries that are found in the western coastal plains of India. The storm activity here is considerably less than on the eastern coastal plains. The maximum storm activity on the western coastal plains occurs in the month of March. The western coastal plains are smaller than their eastern counterpart and the region is divided into three parts. The western coastal plains are divided into the regions of Konkan, Kanara, and the Malabar Coast

Economic Value

• Coastal areas are very important for agriculture, fisheries (sea and inland).

• Also the sea and ports are essential for trade, export/import and the associated commerce (shipping, transport, marketing of agricultural produce, insurance, banking and such services).

Major Tourist Attractions• There are numerous estuaries in the Indian Coastal Plains.

Among these, the major ones are Narmada River and Tapi River in the state of Gujarat. The plain is also blessed with natural harbors such as Marmagao and Mumbai. In the south, the coastal plains get combined with the salt water lakes also known as lagoons. Spits and sand bars can be found at their mouths. The coast is popular for the serene backwaters. The coastal plains alongside the Bay of Bengal are very extensive and also differ from the plains in the western strip. Fast flowing, small rivers cut part the rocky coastal strip.

ISLANDS

• An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water.

Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be

called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be called an

eyot, or holm. A grouping of geographically or geologically related islands is called

an archipelago, e.g. Philippines.

Formation Of islands

• Volcanic Islands- Most oceanic islands originated from ancient volcanic activity. From deep within the earth’s mantle, magma rises up and spews lava onto the sea floor. Over time, the lava builds up and emerges above sea level to form an island volcano.

• Coral Islands- Coral islands form as a result of coral growing on an undersea seamount that is just below the sea surface or was above sea level at some time in the past. Wave action erodes some of the coral which is deposited as sandy/coral beaches. Over time and with the help of wind/wave action, and rising/falling sea levels, the sand forms an island.

Various Physical Features• The topography is portrayed by narrow valleys and hills.

Even if their location is tropical, the islands climate is tempered by sea breezes with irregular rainfall.

• Some of the islands possess flat, coral-covered surfaces where as others with hills. The climatic conditions of these islands are somewhat equatorial with heavy rainfall and high temperatures.

• These islands are located in the sea level and are able to possess limited cultivation.

Lakshadweep islands

• Lakshadweep islands form the smallest Union Territory of India: their total surface area is just 32 square kilometers. The lagoon area covers about 4,200 square kilometers, the territorial waters area 20,000 square kilometers and the exclusive economic zone area is 400,000 square kilometers. The region forms a single Indian district with ten sub divisions. Kavaratti is the capital and the region comes under the jurisdiction of Kerala High Court. The islands are the northernmost of the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands, which are the tops of a vast undersea Chagos-Laccadive Ridge.

Andaman & Nicobar islandS

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, and are a Union Territory of India.

The territory is 150 north of Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 10° N parallel, with the Andamans to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobars to the south. The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west.

The territory's capital is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. The total land area of the territory is approximately 8,073 km2. The capital of Nicobar Islands is Car Nicobar also known as Malacca.

Economic Value• Islands are the earth's great repositories of biological

diversity. By heir favourable climates and historic isolation, islands are home to thousands of species that do not exist elsewhere. The coral reefs that surround many islands are often referred to as the "rainforests of the ocean" because of their astonishing marine life. Many islands are home to mangrove forests, the breeding grounds and nurseries for countless species of fish. Even small islands have huge territorial claims to the surrounding oceans. All told, the exclusive economic zones of islands cover one sixth of the world's surface and harbour one half of its marine biodiversity.

Major Tourist Attractions• Some of the Islands are vast expanse of lands. The lands of Andaman

are very fertile and the islands are thriving with lusting greeneries. The sea coasts are eye catching with the spectacular sea waved and the dense coconut palms line up over the islets. Andaman carries the legacy of many historically important events and locations. Cellular Jail in Port Blair is closely knit to the Indian Independence struggle, which was home for many fighters.

• The biggest of tourist attractions in Lakshadweep lies in its pristine charm and its laid back life. Faraway from the urban clamour and clutter, the only sound you can hear is that of waves crashing against the beaches and the cry of seagulls. Far from the madding crowds you can have a tranquil experience on the islands.The islands also have facilities like Scuba diving, Snorkelling, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, yachting and many more for adventure lovers.