====== Coastal Regions of India ======

India has a vast coastline of **7,516.6 kilometers** bordering the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south. The coastal regions are divided into **Western Coastal Plains** and **Eastern Coastal Plains**.

===== Overview =====

==== Total Coastline ====

^ Region ^ Length (km) ^ Bordering Water Body ^
| **Mainland Coast** | 6,100 | Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean |
| **Island Territories** | 1,416.6 | Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal |
| **Total Coastline** | 7,516.6 | - |

==== Coastal States and Union Territories ====

**Nine Coastal States:** Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal

**Four Coastal UTs:** Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

===== Western Coastal Plains =====

==== Geographical Features ####

  * **Location**: Between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea
  * **Length**: Approximately 1,500 km
  * **Width**: 50-80 km (varies)
  * **Orientation**: North-South
  * **Characteristics**: Narrow, discontinuous plains

==== Subdivisions ####

**Konkan Coast (Maharashtra and Goa):**
  * **Extent**: Damanganga River to Goa
  * **Features**: 
    - Rocky coastline with numerous creeks
    - Rich in coconut palms
    - Heavy monsoon rainfall
  * **Major ports**: Mumbai (natural harbor)

**Karnataka Coast (Kanara Coast):**
  * **Extent**: Goa to Mangalore
  * **Length**: Approximately 300 km
  * **Features**:
    - Sandy beaches
    - Lagoons and backwaters
    - Coconut cultivation
  * **Major ports**: New Mangalore

**Malabar Coast (Kerala):**
  * **Extent**: Karnataka border to Kanyakumari
  * **Length**: 580 km
  * **Features**:
    - Extensive backwaters and lagoons
    - Coconut groves and spice gardens
    - High rainfall region
  * **Major ports**: Kochi, Kozhikode

==== Key Features ####

^ Feature ^ Description ^ Examples ^
| **Backwaters** | Lagoons connected to sea | Vembanad (Kerala), Ashtamudi |
| **Estuaries** | River mouths | Mandovi-Zuari (Goa) |
| **Natural Harbors** | Deep water ports | Mumbai, Kochi |
| **Beaches** | Sandy and rocky shores | Goa beaches, Kovalam |

===== Eastern Coastal Plains =====

==== Geographical Features ####

  * **Location**: Between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal
  * **Length**: Approximately 1,100 km
  * **Width**: 100-120 km (wider than western coast)
  * **Orientation**: Northeast-Southwest
  * **Characteristics**: Broad, continuous plains

==== Subdivisions ####

**Northern Circar:**
  * **Extent**: Chilka Lake to Krishna River
  * **States**: Odisha, northern Andhra Pradesh
  * **Features**: Deltaic plains, fertile alluvium

**Coromandel Coast:**
  * **Extent**: Krishna River to Kanyakumari
  * **States**: Southern Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
  * **Features**: 
    - Major river deltas
    - Fertile agricultural land
    - Dense population

==== Major Deltas ####

^ Delta ^ River(s) ^ Area (sq km) ^ Features ^
| **Mahanadi** | Mahanadi | 9,000 | Extensive rice cultivation |
| **Godavari** | Godavari | 4,177 | Fertile alluvial soil |
| **Krishna** | Krishna | 8,120 | Major agricultural region |
| **Cauvery** | Cauvery | 16,000 | Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu |

===== Islands =====

==== Western Coast Islands ####

**Lakshadweep:**
  * **Location**: Arabian Sea, 200-440 km from Kerala coast
  * **Total Islands**: 36 (10 inhabited)
  * **Formation**: Coral atolls
  * **Capital**: Kavaratti
  * **Features**: Lagoons, coral reefs, coconut cultivation

==== Eastern Coast Islands ####

**Andaman and Nicobar Islands:**
  * **Location**: Bay of Bengal, 1,200 km from mainland
  * **Total Islands**: 572 (37 inhabited)
  * **Formation**: Volcanic origin
  * **Capital**: Port Blair
  * **Features**: Dense forests, tribal population, strategic location

===== Major Ports =====

==== Western Coast Ports ####

^ Port ^ State | Type ^ Significance ^
| **Mumbai** | Maharashtra | Natural | Financial capital, largest port |
| **JNPT (Nhava Sheva)** | Maharashtra | Artificial | Container traffic |
| **Kandla** | Gujarat | Artificial | Tidal port |
| **Mormugao** | Goa | Natural | Iron ore export |
| **New Mangalore** | Karnataka | Artificial | Iron ore, petroleum |
| **Kochi** | Kerala | Natural | Spices, marine products |

==== Eastern Coast Ports ####

^ Port ^ State ^ Type ^ Significance ^
| **Kolkata-Haldia** | West Bengal | River/Artificial | Jute, engineering goods |
| **Paradip** | Odisha | Artificial | Iron ore export |
| **Visakhapatnam** | Andhra Pradesh | Natural | Iron ore, steel |
| **Chennai** | Tamil Nadu | Artificial | Automobile export |
| **Ennore** | Tamil Nadu | Artificial | Coal import |
| **Tuticorin** | Tamil Nadu | Artificial | Salt, chemicals |

===== Economic Activities =====

==== Fishing Industry ####

  * **Marine fisheries**: Major source of protein and livelihood
  * **Fish production**: 14.16 million tonnes (2019-20)
  * **Major fishing states**: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh
  * **Types**: Mechanized, artisanal, aquaculture

==== Salt Production ####

  * **Total production**: 240 lakh tonnes (2019-20)
  * **Major producing states**: Gujarat (75%), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu
  * **Method**: Solar evaporation of seawater
  * **Export**: Significant export potential

==== Tourism ####

  * **Beach tourism**: Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
  * **Cultural tourism**: Temples, heritage sites
  * **Adventure tourism**: Water sports, island tourism
  * **Eco-tourism**: Backwaters, coral reefs

==== Shipping and Trade ####

  * **Cargo handling**: 1,381 million tonnes (2019-20)
  * **Container traffic**: Growing significantly
  * **Petroleum imports**: Major commodity
  * **Iron ore exports**: Traditional export item

===== Coastal Ecosystems =====

==== Mangroves ####

  * **Total area**: 4,975 sq km
  * **Major locations**: Sundarbans (West Bengal), Godavari-Krishna delta
  * **Functions**: Storm protection, fish breeding, carbon sequestration
  * **Threats**: Aquaculture expansion, urban development

==== Coral Reefs ####

  * **Locations**: Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar
  * **Types**: Fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls
  * **Biodiversity**: High marine biodiversity
  * **Threats**: Bleaching, pollution, climate change

==== Beaches ####

  * **Types**: Sandy, rocky, muddy shores
  * **Formation**: Wave action, river sediments
  * **Economic value**: Tourism, recreation
  * **Conservation**: Sea turtle nesting, coastal protection

===== Environmental Challenges =====

==== Coastal Erosion ####

  * **Causes**: Sea level rise, human activities, natural processes
  * **Affected areas**: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha coasts
  * **Impacts**: Land loss, infrastructure damage
  * **Solutions**: Sea walls, beach nourishment, mangrove restoration

==== Pollution ####

  * **Sources**: Industrial discharge, urban sewage, plastic waste
  * **Types**: Chemical, biological, physical pollution
  * **Impacts**: Marine ecosystem degradation, public health
  * **Control measures**: Pollution control laws, waste management

==== Climate Change ####

  * **Sea level rise**: Coastal flooding, saltwater intrusion
  * **Temperature changes**: Coral bleaching, fish migration
  * **Extreme weather**: Cyclones, storm surges
  * **Adaptation**: Early warning systems, coastal planning

===== UPSC Relevance =====

  * **Paper**: General Studies Paper I (Geography) and Paper III (Environment)
  * **Topics**: Coastal geography, ports, marine resources, environmental issues
  * **Previous Year Questions**:
    - Compare eastern and western coastal plains (2021)
    - Coastal erosion and management (2020)
    - Port development and blue economy (2019)
    - Coral reef conservation (2018)

===== Memory Techniques =====

**Western Coast Plains**: **K**onkan **K**anara **M**alabar
  * **K** - Konkan (Maharashtra-Goa)
  * **K** - Kanara/Karnataka Coast
  * **M** - Malabar (Kerala)

**Eastern Coast Plains**: **N**orthern **C**oromandel
  * **N** - Northern Circar (Odisha-North AP)
  * **C** - Coromandel (South AP-Tamil Nadu)

**Major Deltas (North to South)**: **M**ahanadi **G**odavari **K**rishna **C**auvery
  * **M** - Mahanadi (Odisha)
  * **G** - Godavari (AP)
  * **K** - Krishna (AP)
  * **C** - Cauvery (Tamil Nadu)

===== Related Topics =====

  * [[indian_geography:cyclones|Cyclones affecting coastal regions]]
  * [[indian_geography:deccan_plateau|Peninsular rivers and deltas]]
  * [[indian_geography:mountain_ranges|Ghats influencing coastal climate]]

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//Sources: NCERT Class 11 Geography, Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Earth Sciences//