question_answer

Distinguish between the following pairs : .

(a) Island groups of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

(b) Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.

Answer:

Lakshadwep lslands

Andaman & Nicobar lslands

(i) They arc located in the Arabian Sea. It is the smallest Union Territory of India in terms of area. (ii) These islands are group of 36 islands located 300 km to the west of the kerala coast. (iii) Only 11 of the islands are island is the headquarters. (iv) The islands have rich flora and fauna. There is a bird sanctuary at Patti island which is uninhabited. (v) They arc the product of microscopic species, the coral polyps. Many islands are generally horse-shoe shaped and are called atolls. (vi) The Lakshadweep islands add upto 32 sq. kms, and is India's smallest Union Territory.

(i) They are located in the Bay of Bengal. They are bigger in size and more numerous. (ii) There are 300 islands spread over an area of 350 kms. (iii) The Nicobar group has 19 islands and are larger than Lakshadweep islands. (iv) These islands are scanered in Bay of Bengal in form of archipelago. (v) The islands are densely forested, rich in flora and fauna and remain green throughout the year. (vi) Barren island in the Andarnan's is of Volcanic origin, only few degrees away from equator, has equatorial climate.

(b)

Western Ghats

Eastern Ghats

(i) The western edge of the Deccan Plateau is known as Western Ghats. It is sleep edge of the plateau. ange rUns from north 10  south parallel to the Arabian Sea. (iii) The Western Ghats are known by different local names. In Maharashlra and Karnataka they are called Sahyadri, along Kerala and Tamil Nadu they are called the N ilgiris, still further south along the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu they are known as Anai Malai and Cardamom hills. (iv) They are continuous, can be crossed only through passes, e.g., Thai, Bhor and Pal Ghats. The average height of western ghats is 600 to 900 metres Anai Mudi is the highest peak,  (2,695 m). (v) Western Ghats are the Source of eastward flowing rivers, e.g., Godavari, Krishna, Kavcri. (vi) Windward side of the Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall from south-west monsoons, they form barrier to the winds

(i) Eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau i, known as Eastern Ghats. They are Ie sharp. The altitude is only 600 melte (ii) They slretch from the Mahanadi valle) the Nilgiri hills, parallel to the Bay c Bengal. (iii) Eastern Ghats are discontinuous, brok inlo small hills by the rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. (iv) The average height of Eastern Ghats is 600 melres. Mahendragiri (1,500 m) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. (v) Rivers such as Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishn, and Godavari have dissected the Western Ghats. (vi) They receive Jess rainfall compared 10 the Western Ghats from the south-west monsoons. They are in the rain shadow.