The difference between eastern and western coastal plains of India is that they lie in different stretches and have different sections and areas. For instance, Western coastal plains are narrow, whereas Eastern coastal plains are wider in shape. There are other parameters for their differentiation, such as deltas, rivers, and their constituent states.

The difference between eastern and western coastal plains is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Geography subject in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus. 

In this article, we shall study the difference between eastern and western coastal plains, their salient features, and their similarities.

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Difference between Western Coastal Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains

The table below discusses some of the important differences between Eastern coastal plains and Western Coastal Plains in India.

Study in detail the Difference Between Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers with this linked article!

Similarities between the Eastern Coastal Plains and the Western Coastal Plains

There are several similarities between the two types of coastal plains. The similarities between the Eastern Coastal Plains and the Western Coastal Plains are discussed below.

• Water bodies surround both the western and eastern plains.
• The climatic zones are the same for both of the coastal plains. The weather in the eastern and western coastal plains is similar since they are in the same climatic zone.
• The peninsular block includes both the eastern and coastal plains of India.
• Both are situated between the Deccan plateau and the water bodies.
• Waterbodies border the eastern and western coastal plains, and the Indian Ocean is near their intersection.
• The peninsular block of the Indian subcontinent includes both the eastern and western coastal plains.
• The Deccan Plateau and the sea bodies, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, respectively, are separated by the eastern and western coastal plains.

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What are Western Coastal Plains?

The Western Coastal Plains refer to a narrow strip of land along the western coast of India. It stretches from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south. The Western Coastal Plains is a region of great natural beauty. It is characterized by its long stretches of beaches, lush green forests, and scenic backwaters.

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Salient Features of Western Coastal Plains

Some of the important salient features of the Western Coastal Plain are listed below.

• The Western Coastal Plains run parallel to the west coast of India. It stretches from the south of the Tapi River to the Western Ghats hills.
• The Western Coastal Plains include six states: 
  • Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Tamil Nadu.
• It acts as a barrier between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
• The Western Coastal Plains boast various natural features, including:
  • sandy beaches, 
  • coastal sand dunes, 
  • mudflats, 
  • lagoons, 
  • alluvial tracts, 
  • estuaries, 
  • lateritic platforms, and 
  • residual hills.
• The northern shore of the Western Coastal Plains is home to the Gulf of Khambhat and the Gulf of Kutch.
• The region experiences heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon.
• The Western Coastal Plains are divided into four parts: 
  • Kathiawar and Kutch Coast, 
  • Konkan Coast, 
  • Kannada Coast, and 
  • Malabar Coast.

What are Eastern Coastal Plains?

The Eastern Coastal Plains refer to a wide stretch of land along the eastern coast of India. It extends from the Bay of Bengal in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south. Three states constitute the Eastern Coastal Plain: Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 

Salient features of the Eastern Coastal Plains

• The Eastern Coastal Plain is a growing coast located between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
• It consists of three states: 
  • Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• The Eastern Coastal Plain stretches from North Bengal down to Tamil Nadu. It passes through Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
• The region is characterized by fertile and productive river deltas. It includes the Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Cauvery deltas.
• There are several notable brackish water lakes in the Eastern Coastal Plain. It includes Lake Chilka, Lake Kolleru, and Lake Pulicat.
• Different regions within the Eastern Coastal Plain are known by their regional names, like:
  • the Coromandel coast in Tamil Nadu, 
  • the Northern Circars in Andhra Pradesh, and 
  • the Utkal plains in Odisha.
• The Eastern Coastal Plain is divided into two parts: 
  • the Northern Circar and 
  • the Coromandel Coast.

Conclusion

There are various bases for the difference between Eastern and Western Coastal Plain as their soil fertility is different and different areas and sections. However, both are part of the significant peninsular block.

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Difference between Eastern and Western Coastal Plain – Know Salient Features & Similarities Between Them:Download PDF here!

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