Page 25 - SST Class 04

Western Coastal Plains

The western coastal plains lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This is
a narrow belt running from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Kerala in the south. It can
be divided into three parts :

1. Gujarat Coast : The Gujarat Coast is located along the
Arabian Sea in the state of Gujarat. The Rann of Kutch and
the Gulf of Khambat are located in this plain. This region
includes the Gir Forest which is home to the Asiatic lion.
2. Konkan Coast : The Konkan
Coast extends from Gujarat to

Goa. These plains are narrow
and rocky. Some rocks run Asiatic lion
right into the ocean, which are dangerous because ships
can run aground. To safeguard ships from these
underwater rocks, many lighthouses have been built here.

A lighthouse Mumbai is located on this coast.
3. Malabar Coast : The Malabar Coast is located in the
state of Kerala. These plains have been formed by the sand
brought by the sea tides, so there are small sand-hills. This
sand has formed a number of lagoons . These lagoons are
used for navigation by boats. This region is well-known for
boat races on the occasion of Onam . It rains much, so this
area is green and fertile. The important crops here include

banana, rice, coconut, coffee etc. A boat race

Eastern Coastal Plains
The eastern coastal plains lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal and
stretch from West Bengal to Kanyakumari. These plains can be divided into two parts.

1. Northern Circars : The Northern Circars are located in coastal Odisha and Andhra
Pradesh. The Mahanadi, the Godavari and the Krishna rivers make large deltas in this
region. So, these plains are fertile and favourabale for the rice crop. The ocean is very
deep, so a number of ports are located here. Vishakhapatnam is an important port
which is used for ship-building also.

2. Coromandel Coast : The Coromandel Coast comprises coastal plains. These are
located between the Krishna and Kaveri rivers. These two rivers have formed fertile
deltas here, which make it very suitable for the rice crop. Owing to abundant rice crop,
this area is also called the rice bowl of India . The other important crops grown here
include sugarcane, coconut, oilseeds and tobacco. These plains fall in the state of Tamil
Nadu. Chennai is an important seaport in this coast.

Coastal Plains and Islands 25