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Difficulty: HardPhysiography and Relief Features of India

Consider the following statements regarding the physiographic and morphotectonic features of the Coastal Plains of India:

1. The Western Coastal Plain is predominantly a submerged coastal margin, which provides favorable natural conditions for the development of natural ports and harbors.
2. The Eastern Coastal Plain is an emergent coastal margin characterized by a broader continental shelf and extensive river deltas.
3. Due to gentle terrain gradients and long courses, rivers flowing across the Western Coastal Plain construct broad alluvial deltas before entering the sea.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 3 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
The Western Coastal Plain is a submerged coast created by tectonic faulting, which makes it narrow and indented with natural harbor conditions. The Eastern Coastal Plain is an emergent, broad coast characterized by large prograding deltas. West-flowing rivers have steep gradients and short courses across the narrow western belt, forming estuaries instead of deltas, making the option stating '1 and 2 only' the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding the Western Coastal Plain structure.
Statement 1 is correct. The Western Coastal Plain (except parts of Malabar) is a submerged coast formed by faulting and down-dropping of the Peninsular block during the Arabian Sea opening. Submergence provides natural deep water near the coast, supporting major natural ports like Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmagao, and Mangalore.
Geological submergence creates indented shorelines and deep coastal waters suitable for ports.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding the Eastern Coastal Plain structure.
Statement 2 is correct. The Eastern Coastal Plain is an emergent coast formed by continental uplift and marine regression combined with continuous river deposition. It is wide and features extensive deltas formed by rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
Emergent coasts are characterized by gentle continental slopes and broad depositional plains.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding depositional landforms of west-flowing rivers.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Rivers originating in the Western Ghats flowing west (such as Narmada, Tapi, Mandovi, Sharavati, Periyar) have short, steep courses with high energy. Because the western coast is submerged and steep, these rivers deposit minimal sediment on land and form estuaries rather than broad deltas.
Short steep slopes and submerged coastal margins prevent delta formation, creating estuaries instead.

Key Concept

Physiographic Differentiation of Indian Coastal Plains (Submerged vs. Emergent Coasts)
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Physiography and Relief Features of India

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