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Eastern Ghats

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Eastern Ghats are an ancient mountain range in India. They stretch along the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula. This range runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal. It sits along the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. The mountains cover a large area across several Indian states. These include Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Indiahills
Indiahills

Geologists study these mountains to understand Earth's history. The range is an orogenic belt. An orogenic belt is a region where mountains form through tectonic activity. This process began during the archeozoic era. The mountains became part of the Indian subcontinent after the supercontinent Rodinia broke up. This breakup led to the formation of Gondwana. Over millions of years, the mountains changed through metamorphism. Metamorphism is when rocks change due to intense heat and pressure. This makes the Eastern Ghats much older than the Western Ghats.

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

The geology of the range is very complex. Many different types of rocks are found here. These include granite, quartzite, and charnockite. A major rock type is khondalite. These rocks formed during the mid-proterozoic era. They began as layers of silt, carbonates, and basalt. During the mesoproterozoic era, the range was compacted. It was also re-aligned toward the northeast. The structure contains many thrusts and strike-slip faults. A significant feature is the Eparchaean Unconformity in the Tirumala Hills. This shows a long period where no new rocks were deposited.

Banki, Odisha, India - panoramio (1)
Banki, Odisha, India - panoramio (1)

The Eastern Ghats can be divided into three distinct sections. The northern section lies mostly in Odisha. It stretches from the Similipal hills to the Andhra Pradesh border. The highest peak here is Deomali at 1,672 meters. The central section reaches up to the Penna River. It consists of two parallel ranges. A wide gorge separates these ranges. The Godavari and Krishna rivers flow through this gorge.

Early morning in Godavari 02
Early morning in Godavari 02

The southern section consists of several smaller hills. These include the Javadi and Shevaroy Hills. The range eventually meets the Western Ghats at the Nilgiris.

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

Water plays a huge role in this landscape. The Eastern Ghats are a major watershed for India. A watershed is an area of land that directs water to specific rivers. Many perennial river systems flow through the range. These include the Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Kaveri. Most of these rivers originate in the Western Ghats. They flow east across the plateau to reach the Bay of Bengal. The rivers create many waterfalls and large coastal lagoons. Examples of these lagoons include Chilika, Kolleru, and Pulicat lakes.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary 1
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary 1

The climate in the region is tropical. It is often hot and humid. During summer, temperatures can reach high levels. The humidity stays between 65% and 75%. The mountains influence local weather through orography. Orography is the study of how mountains affect weather. The range blocks low-level winds. This brings rainfall to the eastern coastal plains. There are nine different forest types in the region. These range from tropical evergreen to thorn scrub.

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary 9
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary 9

Some trees, like red sandalwood, are commercially important.

Red sandalwood logs at kapiltirtham0
Red sandalwood logs at kapiltirtham0

Biodiversity in the Eastern Ghats is incredibly high. The region is home to many species of plants and animals. There are over 4,500 species of flowering plants. Some of these are endemic, meaning they live nowhere else. Many animals live in these forests. You can find Bengal tigers, leopards, and Indian elephants. The grey slender loris is also found here.

Slender Loris
Slender Loris

Many bird species live in the range too. The Jerdon's courser is a very rare bird. It was thought to be extinct until it was found again in 1986.

JC PJ
JC PJ

The region is a vital home for much of India's wildlife.

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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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