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.

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

==== 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:
  1. Rocky coastline with numerous creeks
  2. Rich in coconut palms
  3. Heavy monsoon rainfall
• Major ports: Mumbai (natural harbor)

Karnataka Coast (Kanara Coast):

• Extent: Goa to Mangalore
• Length: Approximately 300 km
• Features:
  1. Sandy beaches
  2. Lagoons and backwaters
  3. Coconut cultivation
• Major ports: New Mangalore

Malabar Coast (Kerala):

• Extent: Karnataka border to Kanyakumari
• Length: 580 km
• Features:
  1. Extensive backwaters and lagoons
  2. Coconut groves and spice gardens
  3. High rainfall region
• Major ports: Kochi, Kozhikode

==== Key Features ####

==== 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:
  1. Major river deltas
  2. Fertile agricultural land
  3. Dense population

==== Major Deltas ####

==== 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

==== Western Coast Ports ####

==== Eastern Coast Ports ####

==== 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

==== 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

==== 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

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

Western Coast Plains: Konkan Kanara Malabar

• K - Konkan (Maharashtra-Goa)
• K - Kanara/Karnataka Coast
• M - Malabar (Kerala)

Eastern Coast Plains: Northern Coromandel

• N - Northern Circar (Odisha-North AP)
• C - Coromandel (South AP-Tamil Nadu)

Major Deltas (North to South): Mahanadi Godavari Krishna Cauvery

• M - Mahanadi (Odisha)
• G - Godavari (AP)
• K - Krishna (AP)
• C - Cauvery (Tamil Nadu)

• Cyclones affecting coastal regions
• Peninsular rivers and deltas
• Ghats influencing coastal climate

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