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The Indian Coastline: Processes and Landforms

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Landscapes and Landforms of India

Part of the book series: World Geomorphological Landscapes ((WGLC))

Abstract

The nearly 7,500 km long coastline of India is remarkably varied and dynamic and displays diverse rock-based, sediment-based and coral-based landforms. Coastal processes along the Indian coasts are controlled largely by monsoons. The Arabian Sea coast differs from the Bay of Bengal coast in several respects. The east coast is wider, with several large deltas, large lagoons, one of the world’s largest mangrove wetland (Sundarbans) and long stretches of sandy beaches backed by dunes or ridges. In comparison, the west coast is more indented with rocky headlands, intervening sandy bays and multiple estuaries. Cliffs and associated features are relatively more common. A large saline marshland and lagoon-barrier complexes (kayals) are some of the noteworthy features along the west coast.

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Correspondence to Ranadhir Mukhopadhyay .

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Mukhopadhyay, R., Karisiddaiah, S.M. (2014). The Indian Coastline: Processes and Landforms. In: Kale, V. (eds) Landscapes and Landforms of India. World Geomorphological Landscapes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8029-2_8

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