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16.2.Indian coast
Unit 16 : Integrated Coastal Zone Management
16.2.Indian coast
India’s coastline has been undergoing physical changes throughout the geological past, although the last tectonic phase in the Indian peninsula has been one of the general emergence, the present coastal geomorphology of India has evolved largely in the background of the post-glacial transgression over the pre-existing topography of the shore, coast and offshore zones. The Holocene sea fluctuated in the course of the last 6,000 years and the marked regression is indicated between 3,000 to 5,000 years B.C. There are more than 100 rivers, which bring large quantities of sediments to the coast. The mightier ones are the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Godavari and Cauvery on the east coast and Narmada and Tapi on the north-west coast.
The continental shelf is narrow along the east coast. On the west coast, the wide shelf of about 340 kms of the north tapers to less than 60 kms in the south. With a monsoon climate, the southwesterly winds during the period from June to September bring high waves closer to the southwest coast. The east coast generally becomes active during the cyclones of the northeast monsoon period (October-November). The tidal range also varies significantly from south to north. While the southern coast, have a tidal range of less than 1 metre, the northwest peaks at 11 metres and the northeast reaches 4 metres.
Gujarat coast can be classified into five regions viz., the Rann of Kachchh, the Gulf of Kachchh, the Saurashtra Coast, the Gulf of Khambat and the South Gujarat Coast. The coastal area of Gujarat including the Rann of Kachchh is the largest in the country and covers an area of about 28,500 sq km. The Ranns of Kachchh comprise of the Great Rann and the Little Rann, which remain saline desert for the greater part of the year. The area of the lower Indus deltaic plain situated on the west of the Great Rann of Kachchh is characterised by the tidal creeks (e.g. Kori creek) and mangroves. High tidal flats with or without salt encrustations are seen. In the Gulf of Kachchh shoreline has extensive mudflats and is highly intended with a number of cliffed rocky islands. It is fringed by coral reefs at many places. Mangroves, algae, salt marsh, dunes and salt pans are common. The Saurashtra coast is less intended, but has numerous cliffs, islands, tidal flats, estuaries and embayments. Dunes (near Mahuva), sandy beaches, spits, bars, bays, marshes and estuaries predominate. Raised beaches area present around Veraval and Porbandar. The presence of 2-3 strandlines (old shorelines) for most part of the Saurashtra coast and the cliffs with undercutting reveal the dynamic nature of mudflats, dunes and sporadic beaches. The different levels of mudflats and other features are indicative of high tidal range (upto 11 m). The paleomudflats are related to the phenomenon of regression of the Flandrian sea. The south Gujarat coast is comparatively uniform and is broken by few indentations. Series of estuaries, creeks, mudflats and marsh vegetation are present. The river mouths of Purna, Ambica and Damanganga are eroding. Deposition is observed near Umargam. Similar geomorphology continues upto Mumbai in Maharashtra. This region has extensive creek systems which are flanked by mudflats, mangroves and saltpans. Numerous islands both barrier and offshore are observed. Isolated cliffs and sandy beaches are seen.
The southern Maharashtra and Goa coasts are characterized by pocket beaches flanked by raised platform, rocky cliffs and promontories (all of Deccan basalt), estuaries, bays and mangroves. Mudflats are found mainly along estuaries, bays and creeks. Ratnagiri has rich mangrove forests. Iron ore mines are located at Redi. The Ma rmagao bay flanked by Mandovi and Zuari estuaries is the largest estuarine system on this part of the coast. Beaches in Goa are long, linear and wide and are flanked by headlands (promontories).
These beaches are extensively used for recreation.
The coastal zone of Karnataka is narrow except around estuaries. Headlands and pocket beaches characaterize the northern coast (Ankola -Karwar) and long linear beaches are seen on the southern coast. Spits, estuaries, mudflats, shallow lagoons, islands and few patches of mangroves are also observed. Erosion is seen near Mangalore and deposition in Kalinadi creek near Karwar. Mangalore is found to be emerging as evidenced from geological and tide records. Consequent to this, change in the course of rivers near the coast is quite common here.
On contrast to the Mangalore coast, Kerala coast is described as a sub-mergent coast. Lateritic cliffs, rocky promontories, offshore stalks, long beaches, estuaries, lagoons, spits and bars are characteristics of Kerala coast. The sand ridges, extensive lagoons and barrier islands are indicative of a dynamic coast with transgression and regression in the recent geological past. The central Kerala coast around Kochi is of recent origin. There are about 700 land-locked islands (including barrier islands) in Kerala. The mudbanks of Kerala are unique transient nearshore features appearing during monsoon. Though there are 41 rivers bringing enormous quantity of sediments, deltas are not formed due to the high energy condition of the coast. Cochin-Vembanad is one of the largest estuarine systems in the country. Ashtamudi is another major estuary in Kerala. It is estimated that 30 kms of the coast is undergoing high erosion and 21 kms is accreting. About 360 kms of the 570 kms coastline is protected by seawalls. There are rich heavy mineral deposits in Chavara. Though the Kerala coast is described as a mangrove forest in the resourced history, it is left with just 16 sq. kms of mangroves restricted mainly at Valapatanam and Puthuvaipu (Kochi).
The Tamil Nadu (including Pondicherry) coast is straight and narrow without much indentations except at Vedaranyam. Fringing and patch reefs are present near Rameswaram and Gulf of Mannar. Ichavaram, Vedaranyam and Point Calimere have well developed mangrove systems. In Tamil Nadu about 46 rivers drain into Bay of Bengal forming several estuaries adjoining coastal lagoons. The Cauvery River and its tributaries form a large delta supporting extensive agriculture. The other landforms of the Tamil Nadu coast are rock outcrops of Kanyakumari, mudflats, beaches, spits, coastal dunes and strand features. Deposition is observed at Point Calimere, Nagapattinam, South Madras, etc., while erosion is reported at Ovari Paravarnattam, Ma habalipuram and North Madras near Ennore. Rich deposits of heavy minerals are available in Muttam-Manavalakuruchi coast. The southern tip is also known for the Tera sands.
The Coastline of Andhra Pradesh is long with indentations only in the extreme south (in the saltwater lagoon of Pulicat lake) and between the Godavari and Krishna deltas (which are growing outwards). North of Godavari delta is rocky, south of Krishna delta is a sandy and in between the interdelta is vegetated with mangroves. The res idual hills and ridges of the north are common here. The deltaic coast comprises of bays, creeks, extensive tidal mudflats, spits, bars, mangrove swamps, marshes, ridge and swale areas and coastal alluvial plains. The Kolleru lake is situated in the inte rdelta. This was formed due to the coalescence of the deltaic deposits of the rivers and later it was cut off from the sea. The Pulicat lake has extensive tidal flat and 12 km long spit, where Sriharikotta is situated. The lake is shrinking especially from the northen side. The deltaic and southern coast are rich in agriculture and aquaculture production. These coasts are frequented by cyclones.
The Orissa coast is mainly depositional in nature formed by the Mahanadi and the Brahmani-Baitarani deltas. It is exposed to severe cyclones (latest in October, 1999). The Chilka lagoon is the largest natural water body of the Indian coast. The width of the beaches of the Orissa coast vary. The Bhitarkanika and Hatmundia reserve mangroves are extensive (190 sq. km). Gopalpur is rich in heavy minerals. Mudflats, spits, bars, beach ridges, creeks, estuaries, lagoons, flood plains, paleomudflats, coastal dunes, salt pans and paleochannels are observed along the Orissa coast. The West Bengal coast represents a typical deltaic strip with almost a flat terrain. The Hoogly and its distributaries form the most conspicuous drainage system and form an estuarine system. The Sundarbans with coverage of about 1,430 sq. kms, is one of the largest single block of the halophytic mangrove systems of the world. The major geomorphic features are mudflats, bars, shoals, beach ridges, estuaries, extensive network of creeks, paleomudflats, coastal dunes, large number of islands (e.g Sagar) and salt pans.
In Lakshadweep Is lands, situated in the Arabian Sea, there are about 36 islands (11 inhabited), a number of sunken banks, open reefs and sand banks. These coral islands are 3-9 metres above Mean Sea Level (MSL), have an area of 32 sq. kms and all of them have well developed coral reefs. Lagoons are integral part of all Lakshadweep islands. The Andaman and Nicobar group of islands of Bay of Bengal are about 350 in number. These islands are volcanic in origin and emerged part of a mountain chain. The coastline has coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves, creeks, bays, cliffs, saline areas and forestland. The southern most island (Indira Point) is the country’s southern most point, latitudinally. An active volcanic island is observed in Nicobar group of islands.
India’s coastline has been undergoing physical changes throughout the geological past, although the last tectonic phase in the Indian peninsula has been one of the general emergence, the present coastal geomorphology of India has evolved largely in the background of the post-glacial transgression over the pre-existing topography of the shore, coast and offshore zones. The Holocene sea fluctuated in the course of the last 6,000 years and the marked regression is indicated between 3,000 to 5,000 years B.C. There are more than 100 rivers, which bring large quantities of sediments to the coast. The mightier ones are the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Godavari and Cauvery on the east coast and Narmada and Tapi on the north-west coast.
The continental shelf is narrow along the east coast. On the west coast, the wide shelf of about 340 kms of the north tapers to less than 60 kms in the south. With a monsoon climate, the southwesterly winds during the period from June to September bring high waves closer to the southwest coast. The east coast generally becomes active during the cyclones of the northeast monsoon period (October-November). The tidal range also varies significantly from south to north. While the southern coast, have a tidal range of less than 1 metre, the northwest peaks at 11 metres and the northeast reaches 4 metres.
Gujarat coast can be classified into five regions viz., the Rann of Kachchh, the Gulf of Kachchh, the Saurashtra Coast, the Gulf of Khambat and the South Gujarat Coast. The coastal area of Gujarat including the Rann of Kachchh is the largest in the country and covers an area of about 28,500 sq km. The Ranns of Kachchh comprise of the Great Rann and the Little Rann, which remain saline desert for the greater part of the year. The area of the lower Indus deltaic plain situated on the west of the Great Rann of Kachchh is characterised by the tidal creeks (e.g. Kori creek) and mangroves. High tidal flats with or without salt encrustations are seen. In the Gulf of Kachchh shoreline has extensive mudflats and is highly intended with a number of cliffed rocky islands. It is fringed by coral reefs at many places. Mangroves, algae, salt marsh, dunes and salt pans are common. The Saurashtra coast is less intended, but has numerous cliffs, islands, tidal flats, estuaries and embayments. Dunes (near Mahuva), sandy beaches, spits, bars, bays, marshes and estuaries predominate. Raised beaches area present around Veraval and Porbandar. The presence of 2-3 strandlines (old shorelines) for most part of the Saurashtra coast and the cliffs with undercutting reveal the dynamic nature of mudflats, dunes and sporadic beaches. The different levels of mudflats and other features are indicative of high tidal range (upto 11 m). The paleomudflats are related to the phenomenon of regression of the Flandrian sea. The south Gujarat coast is comparatively uniform and is broken by few indentations. Series of estuaries, creeks, mudflats and marsh vegetation are present. The river mouths of Purna, Ambica and Damanganga are eroding. Deposition is observed near Umargam. Similar geomorphology continues upto Mumbai in Maharashtra. This region has extensive creek systems which are flanked by mudflats, mangroves and saltpans. Numerous islands both barrier and offshore are observed. Isolated cliffs and sandy beaches are seen.
The southern Maharashtra and Goa coasts are characterized by pocket beaches flanked by raised platform, rocky cliffs and promontories (all of Deccan basalt), estuaries, bays and mangroves. Mudflats are found mainly along estuaries, bays and creeks. Ratnagiri has rich mangrove forests. Iron ore mines are located at Redi. The Ma rmagao bay flanked by Mandovi and Zuari estuaries is the largest estuarine system on this part of the coast. Beaches in Goa are long, linear and wide and are flanked by headlands (promontories).
These beaches are extensively used for recreation.
The coastal zone of Karnataka is narrow except around estuaries. Headlands and pocket beaches characaterize the northern coast (Ankola -Karwar) and long linear beaches are seen on the southern coast. Spits, estuaries, mudflats, shallow lagoons, islands and few patches of mangroves are also observed. Erosion is seen near Mangalore and deposition in Kalinadi creek near Karwar. Mangalore is found to be emerging as evidenced from geological and tide records. Consequent to this, change in the course of rivers near the coast is quite common here.
On contrast to the Mangalore coast, Kerala coast is described as a sub-mergent coast. Lateritic cliffs, rocky promontories, offshore stalks, long beaches, estuaries, lagoons, spits and bars are characteristics of Kerala coast. The sand ridges, extensive lagoons and barrier islands are indicative of a dynamic coast with transgression and regression in the recent geological past. The central Kerala coast around Kochi is of recent origin. There are about 700 land-locked islands (including barrier islands) in Kerala. The mudbanks of Kerala are unique transient nearshore features appearing during monsoon. Though there are 41 rivers bringing enormous quantity of sediments, deltas are not formed due to the high energy condition of the coast. Cochin-Vembanad is one of the largest estuarine systems in the country. Ashtamudi is another major estuary in Kerala. It is estimated that 30 kms of the coast is undergoing high erosion and 21 kms is accreting. About 360 kms of the 570 kms coastline is protected by seawalls. There are rich heavy mineral deposits in Chavara. Though the Kerala coast is described as a mangrove forest in the resourced history, it is left with just 16 sq. kms of mangroves restricted mainly at Valapatanam and Puthuvaipu (Kochi).
The Tamil Nadu (including Pondicherry) coast is straight and narrow without much indentations except at Vedaranyam. Fringing and patch reefs are present near Rameswaram and Gulf of Mannar. Ichavaram, Vedaranyam and Point Calimere have well developed mangrove systems. In Tamil Nadu about 46 rivers drain into Bay of Bengal forming several estuaries adjoining coastal lagoons. The Cauvery River and its tributaries form a large delta supporting extensive agriculture. The other landforms of the Tamil Nadu coast are rock outcrops of Kanyakumari, mudflats, beaches, spits, coastal dunes and strand features. Deposition is observed at Point Calimere, Nagapattinam, South Madras, etc., while erosion is reported at Ovari Paravarnattam, Ma habalipuram and North Madras near Ennore. Rich deposits of heavy minerals are available in Muttam-Manavalakuruchi coast. The southern tip is also known for the Tera sands.
The Coastline of Andhra Pradesh is long with indentations only in the extreme south (in the saltwater lagoon of Pulicat lake) and between the Godavari and Krishna deltas (which are growing outwards). North of Godavari delta is rocky, south of Krishna delta is a sandy and in between the interdelta is vegetated with mangroves. The res idual hills and ridges of the north are common here. The deltaic coast comprises of bays, creeks, extensive tidal mudflats, spits, bars, mangrove swamps, marshes, ridge and swale areas and coastal alluvial plains. The Kolleru lake is situated in the inte rdelta. This was formed due to the coalescence of the deltaic deposits of the rivers and later it was cut off from the sea. The Pulicat lake has extensive tidal flat and 12 km long spit, where Sriharikotta is situated. The lake is shrinking especially from the northen side. The deltaic and southern coast are rich in agriculture and aquaculture production. These coasts are frequented by cyclones.
The Orissa coast is mainly depositional in nature formed by the Mahanadi and the Brahmani-Baitarani deltas. It is exposed to severe cyclones (latest in October, 1999). The Chilka lagoon is the largest natural water body of the Indian coast. The width of the beaches of the Orissa coast vary. The Bhitarkanika and Hatmundia reserve mangroves are extensive (190 sq. km). Gopalpur is rich in heavy minerals. Mudflats, spits, bars, beach ridges, creeks, estuaries, lagoons, flood plains, paleomudflats, coastal dunes, salt pans and paleochannels are observed along the Orissa coast. The West Bengal coast represents a typical deltaic strip with almost a flat terrain. The Hoogly and its distributaries form the most conspicuous drainage system and form an estuarine system. The Sundarbans with coverage of about 1,430 sq. kms, is one of the largest single block of the halophytic mangrove systems of the world. The major geomorphic features are mudflats, bars, shoals, beach ridges, estuaries, extensive network of creeks, paleomudflats, coastal dunes, large number of islands (e.g Sagar) and salt pans.
In Lakshadweep Is lands, situated in the Arabian Sea, there are about 36 islands (11 inhabited), a number of sunken banks, open reefs and sand banks. These coral islands are 3-9 metres above Mean Sea Level (MSL), have an area of 32 sq. kms and all of them have well developed coral reefs. Lagoons are integral part of all Lakshadweep islands. The Andaman and Nicobar group of islands of Bay of Bengal are about 350 in number. These islands are volcanic in origin and emerged part of a mountain chain. The coastline has coral reefs, sandy beaches, lagoons, mangroves, creeks, bays, cliffs, saline areas and forestland. The southern most island (Indira Point) is the country’s southern most point, latitudinally. An active volcanic island is observed in Nicobar group of islands.
Last modified: Monday, 13 June 2011, 11:38 AM