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Eastern Ghats

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Eastern Ghats are a long chain of mountains in India.

Indiahills
Indiahills

They run along the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. This range sits near the Bay of Bengal. It passes through many different states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. It also goes through Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The mountains are not one solid line. They are a broken chain of hills. This makes them look different from the Western Ghats.

Steep cliffs are a common sight in Sunabeda wildlife Sanctuary
Steep cliffs are a common sight in Sunabeda wildlife Sanctuary

These mountains are very old. They began forming during a time called the archeozoic era. They became part of India after huge supercontinents broke apart. Scientists found that the mountains grew through a process called metamorphism. This means rocks changed over millions of years. The rocks in the mountains include granite and quartzite. You can also find khondalite rocks there.

Khondalite suite of rocks (Eastern Ghats) at Tenneti park beach
Khondalite suite of rocks (Eastern Ghats) at Tenneti park beach

These mountains are much older than the Western Ghats. They have been shaped by erosion for a very long time.

The mountains have three main sections. The northern part is mostly in Odisha. The middle part reaches up to the Penna River. This middle section has two parallel ranges. A wide gorge sits between them. This is where the Godavari and Krishna rivers flow.

Early morning in Godavari 02
Early morning in Godavari 02

Most rivers start in the Western Ghats. They flow east across these mountains to reach the sea. The mountains also create many waterfalls. There are also large lakes called lagoons near the coast.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary 1
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary 1

The weather in the Eastern Ghats is often hot and humid. The mountains play a role in bringing rain to the coast. This happens because the range blocks certain winds. There are nine different types of forests in this region. You can find evergreen forests and dry thorn forests.

Some trees are very useful, like red sandalwood.

Red sandalwood logs at kapiltirtham0
Red sandalwood logs at kapiltirtham0

The higher hills are usually cooler and wetter. The lower parts can be quite dry.

Many amazing animals live in these mountains. You might see a Bengal tiger or an Indian elephant. There are also many kinds of monkeys like the Hanuman langur.

Blackbucks Sparring
Blackbucks Sparring

Some animals are special because they only live here. The grey slender loris is one such animal.

Slender Loris
Slender Loris

You can also find rare birds like the Jerdon's courser.

JC PJ
JC PJ

This bird was once thought to be gone forever. It was found again in 1986. The region is truly full of life.

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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Khondalite suite of rocks (Eastern Ghats) at Tenneti park beach.JPG
Khondalite suite of rocks (Eastern Ghats)...
File:Indiahills.png
Indiahills.png
File:Early_morning_in_Godavari_02.jpg
Early_morning_in_Godavari_02.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_IND_present.svg
Koppen-Geiger_Map_IND_present.svg
File:Cauvery_Wildlife_Sanctuary_9.JPG
Cauvery_Wildlife_Sanctuary_9.JPG
File:Slender_Loris.jpg
Slender_Loris.jpg
File:JC_PJ.jpg
JC_PJ.jpg
File:Red_sandalwood_logs_at_kapiltirtham0.jpg
Red_sandalwood_logs_at_kapiltirtham0.jpg
File:Banki, Odisha, India - panoramio (1).jpg
Banki, Odisha, India - panoramio (1).jpg
File:Coringa_Wildlife_Sanctuary_1.jpg
Coringa_Wildlife_Sanctuary_1.jpg
File:Blackbucks_Sparring.jpg
Blackbucks_Sparring.jpg
File:Steep_cliffs_are_a_common_sight_in_Sunabeda_wildlife_Sanctuary.jpg
Steep_cliffs_are_a_common_sight_in_Sunabed...
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