Question

Which of the following is not true with regard to the coastal plains of India?

• A. The west coast has a narrow alluvial margin interspersed by hilly terrain
• B. The eastern coast has a wide plain with well-developed deltas of the major rivers
• C. The west coast has little indentation except towards the south
• D. The west and east coasts, have the same alluvial features

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Western Coastal plain

Westeren coastal plain is 10 to 15 km wide and is narrower than eastern coastal plain.

Western coast is divided into 4 parts:

Kathiawar coast (Gujarat coast)

Konkan coast (Maharstra coast)

Canara coast(Karnataka coast)

Malabar coast (Kerala coast)

The Gujarat coastal plains are built up by alluvium brought by Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada and Tapti rivers, all of which form large estuaries.

Malabar coast contains lakes, lagoons and backwaters locally called Kayals.

Vembaned Lake (Kerala) is largest of such back water lakes.

Eastern Coastal plain

Eastern coastal plain is 50 to 60 km wide and is broader than western coastal plain

The eastern coast is mainly emergent type i.e. its outline is regular and is characterized by offshore bars, sea beaches, sand ridges and lagoons.

Tamil Nadu coast is called Coromandel coast while Odisha and West Bengal coast is called Northern Circar coast.

Most of the east flowing rivers follow zig-zag path and are more border as compared to west flowing rivers. So, these east flowing rivers from delta where as west flowing rivers (like Narmada and Tapti) from estuary.

For example: Sunderbans delta of Ganga-Bhramaputra in West Bengal, Mahanadi delta, Godavari delta etc.

Region of Mahanadi delta is called Utkal Plain.