The Western Ghats: Mountains of the Peninsular India
The Western Ghats: The Western Ghats (also sometimes known as the Sahyadri Mountains) is a mountain range along the western coast of India from Tapi Vallery down to Cape Comorin. The northern part of the Western Ghat near Dharwar and Ratnagiti is composed of the Deccan Traps while the couthern part is composed of Archean gniesses, schists and charnokites.The average elevation of the Western Ghats varies between 3500 to 4000 feet. However, there are many peaks in the Western Ghats that rise over 7000 feet. The Western Ghats runs approximately 1600 km through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India. The Western Ghats covers almost 60,000 km² surface area and forms the catchment valley for a complex drainage system.
- Dodda-Betta peak: 8650 feet (in Nilgiris)
- Makurti peak: 8380 feet (in Nilgiris)
- Anaimudi peak: 8837 feet (in Anaimalais Hills)
- Vembadi Shola – 8218 feet (in Palni Hills)
Near Mumbai, the Western Ghat mountain forms flat topped ridges due to the more resistant flow of the Deccan Traps forming a step like terraces. The Western Ghats are faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau. Godavari, Bhima and Krishna rivers rise in this area. The Satmala ridge branches off between Tapi and Godavari while the Mahadeo Ridge branches off between the Bhima and Krishna rivers. Mahabaleswar is one of the most well known hill stations in India near the source of Krishna river. The major hill range starting from the north is the Sahyadhri (the benevolent mountains) range. This range is also known for other hill stations like Matheran, Lonavala-Khandala, Panchgani,Amboli Ghat, Kudremukh and Kodagu.
The Western Ghats are believed to have been formed during the break-up of the super continent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago. Basalt is the predominant rock found in the hills reaching a depth of 3 km (2 mi). Other rock types found are charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, leptynites, metamorphic gneisses with detached occurrences of crystalline limestone, iron ore, dolerites and anorthosites. Residual laterite and bauxite ores are also found in the southern hills.
To the south, the Western Ghats recede 30 t0 40 miles from the coast near Mysore. The Eastern Ghats mountain joins the Western Ghats in Nilgiri to form the highest peak Doddabetta (8650 feet). The Western Ghats recede even more going south from Mysore.
Palghat Gap, 1000 feet long and 15 miles wide, lies to the south of the Nilgiri Hills. The Palghat pass (or gap) provided a major line of communication between coastal plains of Malabar, Kanara and to the plains of South Madras. The Palghat Gap is believed to represent a valley of a westerly flowing river of Tertiary time.
The Western Ghats rise again to the south of the Palghat Gap and forms the Anaimalai Hills.
Although the Western Ghats are situated close to the Arabian Sea, it forms the real watershed of the Indian Peninsula. The eastern slope of Western Ghats are much smoother than the steep western slope. The eastern slope grades into the Mysore plateau and the plains of the interior Madras. The steep nature of the Western slope caused the prominent moonsoon with about 150 inches of rainfall every year.
All of the major rivers of the Indian peninsular (Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Tambraparni) rise in Western Ghats and flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal
Related posts:
- India and Switzerland discuss economic ties India and Switzerland Wednesday agreed to step up their economic...
- Chinese dam will not impact Brahmaputra: Krishna New Delhi, April 22 (Coal Geology) China has assured India...
- Increase in coal and crude oil production in India-Economic survey There is good news on India's energy front, with the...
- US-based Gulfstream is optimistic about business jet market in India With the number of billionaires and high net worth individuals...
- India to Earn 2 Billion from Krishna Godavari Basin The government will earn a royalty of $2 billion from...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
