Karnataka Coast

Karnataka Coast

      coastal lowlands in western Karnataka (Karnātaka) state, southwestern India. Constituting an area of about 4,000 square miles (10,000 square km), it is bounded by Konkan to the north, the Western Ghats to the east, the Kerala Plains to the south, and the Arabian Sea to the west. It stretches from north to south for about 140 miles (225 km) and has a maximum width of about 40 miles (64 km) in the south.

      The coastline is sandy, and in places rocky cliffs overhang the sea. Sloping from east to west, it comprises a narrow belt of coastal sand dunes, marshes, and valley plains backed by a higher erosional platform, in turn succeeded by isolated hills that are 300 to 1,000 feet (90 to 300 metres) high farther inland. Coconuts and casuarinas grow on the saline sandy beaches, mangroves live in the marshes and estuaries, and bamboo and scrub are found on the hills. The coast is drained by the Kali Nadi, Gangavali, Bedti, Tadri, Sharavati, and Netravati rivers, which have carved out narrow valleys with steep gradients and generally flow in a westerly direction. Alluvial soils occur in the south. The rest of the coast has infertile red soils that are often gravelly and sandy.

      The region forms a transitional zone between Maharashtra (Mahārāshtra) and Kerala states. The southern, or Mangalore (Mangaluru), region has plantations of coconut palms and beefwood trees (genus Casuarina), and the northern, or Udipi, region produces rice and pulses (legumes). Industries are mostly located at Mangalore, an important regional centre and major coffee port of India, and at Udipi. The ports of Karwar, Kumta, Honavar, and Malpe have lost their importance with the development of railways in the interior. Mangalore and Karwar have been developed as deepwater ports for the export of mineral ores.

      Historically, the coast was a contact zone between Indian merchants and European and African traders. It was successively ruled by the Kadambas, Rattas, Chalukyas, Yadavas, and Hoysalas, until it passed to the Muslims (c. 16th century)—with short interludes of Maratha supremacy. The British annexed the coast in 1789.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Karnataka — This article is about the Indian state. For the progressive rock music group, see Karnataka (band). Karnataka ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ    …   Wikipedia

  • Karnataka — /kahr naht euh keuh/, n. a state in S India. 29,224,046; 74,326 sq. mi. (192,504 sq. km). Cap.: Bangalore. Formerly, Mysore. * * * formerly Mysore State (pop., 2001 prelim.: 52,733,958), southwestern India. Lying on the Arabian Sea, it is… …   Universalium

  • Tourism in Karnataka — Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India, is a veritable treasure trove of tourist delights [cite web url=http://www.gazetteer.kar.nic.in/data/gazetteer/postind/Kar Handbook 2005 Chapter14.Pdf title=Handbook of Karnataka, Karnataka The… …   Wikipedia

  • Religion in Karnataka — Karnataka has played a very important role in shaping present day Indian religion and philosophy. The three most important schools of Vaishnava Hindu philosophy, Advaita , Vishistadvaita and Dvaita blossomed in Karnataka. While Madhvacharya was… …   Wikipedia

  • Malabar Coast — Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala. The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the …   Wikipedia

  • Malabar Coast — /mal euh bahr / a region along the entire SW coast of India, extending from the Arabian Sea inland to the Western Ghats. Also called Malabar. * * * Region, southwestern coast of India, stretching from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea. It now… …   Universalium

  • Geography of Karnataka — The Indian State of Karnataka is located within 11.5 degree North and 18.5 degree North latitudes and 74 degree East and 78.5 degree east longitude. It is situated on a tableland where the Western and Eastern Ghat ranges converge into the Nilgiri …   Wikipedia

  • Cuisine of Karnataka — This article is part of the series …   Wikipedia

  • Malabar Coast moist forests — The Malabar Coast moist forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southwestern India. It lies along India s Konkan and Malabar coasts, in a narrow strip between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats range, which runs parallel to… …   Wikipedia

  • Puttur, Karnataka — Infobox Indian Jurisdiction native name = Puttur | type = city | latd = 12.77 | longd = 75.22 locator position = right | state name = Karnataka district = Dakshina Kannada leader title = leader name = altitude = 87 population as of = 2001… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”