Eduqo
Indian Geography›Ch 2: Physical Geography of India›Thar Desert, Coastal Plains and Islands
Master arid lands, western-eastern coasts, and Indian archipelagos for exams
Thar Desert receives scanty rainfall due to Aravalli alignment, while coastal plains and islands feature unique lagoons called kayals and volcanic formations.
Quick Memory Hooks
| Feature | Location | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Konkan Coast | Maharashtra-Goa | Rocky & rugged |
| Malabar Coast | Kerala | Famous for Kayals |
| Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea | Coral origin |
| Barren Island | Andaman Sea | Active volcano |
Barchans
(Crescent sand dunes)
Crescent sand dunes
Barchans are shifting sand dunes found in the Thar Desert.
Kayals
(Backwaters of Kerala)
Backwaters of Kerala
Kayals are used for inland navigation and boat races in Malabar.
Atolls
(Ring-shaped corals)
Ring-shaped corals
Lakshadweep islands are formed of coral deposits and atolls.
Barren
(Active volcano site)
Active volcano site
Barren Island lies in the Andaman Sea and is India's active volcano.
Andaman islands are volcanic in originAndaman are tertiary mountain extensions
Only Barren is volcanic; main Andaman islands are submerged mountains like Arakan Yoma.
Lakshadweep islands are of volcanic originLakshadweep islands are coral atolls
Do not confuse Lakshadweep with Andaman volcanism. Lakshadweep are coral reefs.
Coromandel coast receives summer monsoon rainCoromandel receives winter monsoon rain
Coromandel coast remains dry in summer and gets rainfall from retreating northeast monsoon in winter.
Q1.Which channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands?
Q2.The famous 'Kayals' or backwaters are a prominent feature of which coastal plain?