Eastern Ghats

Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu by, passing parts of Karnataka and Telangana on the way. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz., the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. Sitamma Konda is the highest point in both Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats at . The Biligiriranga Hills in Karnataka are the tallest hill range in the Eastern Ghats, with many peaks above 1500 m in height.
Geology
The Eastern Ghats are made up of charnockite, granite gneiss, khondalite, granite and quartzite rock formations. The structure of the Eastern Ghats includes thrusts and strike-slip faults along its range. Limestone, bauxite and iron ore are found in Eastern Ghats hill ranges.
The Eastern Ghats are an ancient orogenic belt which formed from the collision of crustal rocks during the Archean Eon. The belt became part of the Indian subcontinent during the Gondwana period because of continental drift, making the mountains significantly older than the Western Ghats.
The Eparchaean Unconformity of the Tirumala Hills is a major discontinuity of stratigraphic significance that represents an extensive period of erosion and non-deposition. It can be seen at the steep natural slopes, road scars and ravines in the Tirumala ghat roads in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.
Hill ranges
As with the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats have local names along the discontinuous hill ranges.
The Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers flow from headwaters on the Kolar Plateau eastward through gaps in the Ghats to empty into the Bay of Bengal. The Javadhu Hills lie between the two rivers. There are waterfalls along remote stretches of the rivers, such as Kiliyur Falls.
Madhurawada Dome in the Eastern Ghats mobile belt was formed by a tectonic arrangement with the khondalite suite and quartzite Archean rocks north of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Maliya Range is located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats, generally ranging between elevations of 900–1,200 m. The tallest peak in this range is Mahendragiri (1,501 m).
The Madugula Konda Range is also located in the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats. It is higher than the Maliyas and generally ranges between elevations of 1,100–1,400 m. Prominent summits include the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats, Arma Konda (1,690 m), along with Gali Konda (1,643 m) and Sinkram Gutta (1,620 m).
The Similipal massif is considered the furthest northeast extension of the Eastern Ghats.
Rivers
The Eastern Ghats are the source area for many small and medium rivers of the east coastal plains of South India.
Rivers flowing through the Eastern Ghats include:
Brahmani
Godavari
Kaveri
Krishna
Mahanadi
Subarnarekha
Tungabhadra
Rivers originating on the Eastern Ghats include:
Baitarani River
Budhabalanga River
Rushikulya River
Vamsadhara River
Palar River
Nagavali River
Champavathi River
Gosthani River
Sarada River
Sabari River
Sileru River
Tammileru
Gundlakamma River
Pennai Yaru River
Swarnamukhi
Kundu River
Vellar River
Penna River
Fauna
The endemic fauna of the Eastern Ghats include Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) and the grey slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus). Rare geckos live here as well, including the Indian golden gecko (Calodactylodes aureus), granite rock gecko (Hemidactylus graniticolus) and Yercaud slender gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus). Other endemic reptiles include Sharma's skink (Eutropis nagarjuni) and snakes such as Gower's shieldtail snake (Rhinophis goweri), Shortt's shieldtail snake (Uropeltis shorttii) and the Nagarjun Sagar racer (Platyceps bholanathi).
Mammals
Mammals found in the Easter Ghats include the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Madras treeshrew (Anathana ellioti), common grey mongoose (Urva edwardsii), sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), Indian bison (Bos gaurus), Indian boar (Sus scrofa cristatus), common muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), dhole (Cuon alpinus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis), Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus), tufted grey langur (Semnopithecus priam), Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), jungle cat (Felis chaus), cheetal (Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and Indian mole-rat (Bandicota bengalensis). There are about 400 tigers living in the Eastern Ghats.
Birds
A survey conducted by ATREE in the northern Eastern Ghats hill region identified more than 205 species of birds, including relatively rare ones like Brook’s flycatcher (Cyornis poliogenys) and Jerdon’s baza (Aviceda jerdoni). Threatened bird species like the Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) were also spotted in a couple of habitats. Other bird species found in the Eastern Ghats include the Great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus), spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Indian pond heron (Ardeola grayii), hoopoe (Upupa epops), spotted owlet (Athene brama), greater coucal (Centropus sinensis), pied crested cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus), Oriental white ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Indian pitta (Pitta brachyura), Indian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), jungle babbler (Turdoides striata), painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), black-rumped flameback (Dinopium benghalense), brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus), Indian spotted eagle (Aquila hastata), Indian vulture (Gyps indicus)Critically endangered vulture found in Adilabad district. The Hindu (5 June 2013). Retrieved on 28 July 2013. and Malabar whistling thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii).
Amphibians
Up to 30 species of amphibians live in the Eastern Ghats, including Gunther's toad (Bufo hololius), pond frogs (Euphlyctis spp.), cricket frogs (Fejervarya spp.), bull frogs (Hoplobatrachus spp.), burrowing frogs (Sphaerotheca spp.), balloon frogs (Uperodon spp.), small-mouthed frogs (Microhyla spp.) and tree frogs (Polypedates spp.). Endemic species include the golden-backed frogs (Hylarana spp.), the bush frog (Raorchestes terebrans), the recently described caecilian Gegeneophis orientalis, and an Ichthyophis species that is known only from old records.
Reptiles
Nearly 100 species of reptiles occur in the Eastern Ghats. Many endangered species are also present, including the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga), Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata), Indian tent turtle (Pangshura tentoria), Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) and Leith's softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii), many of which are found in the northern rivers and riverine valley tracts.
Among the lizards present are Roux's forest calotes (Monilesaurus rouxii), Psammophilus and Sitana species, Indian chameleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus), reticulated gecko (Hemidactylus reticulatus), rock geckoes Hemidactylus giganteus and Hemidactylus graniticolus, golden gecko (Calodactylodes aureus), slender gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus), rare ground geckoes Cyrtodactylus nebulosus and Cyrtodactylus collegalensis, the recently rediscovered Geckoella jeyporensis, Leschenault's snake-eye (Ophisops leschenaultii), blinking snake-eye (Ophisops minor), Ashwamedh's skink (Eutropis ashwamedhii), Beddome's skink (Eutropis beddomei), Nagarjun's skink (Eutropis nagarjuni) and Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis). Noteworthy lizards include endemic, fossorial species of leg-less skinks such as Sepsophis punctatus, Barkudia melanosticta and Barkudia insularis that are known only from the northern ranges and along the adjoining Eastern coastal plains in northern Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Among snakes present are the beaked worm snake (Grypotyphlops acutus), endemic shield-tailed snakes like Uropeltis ellioti and Uropeltis shorttii, the recently described Rhinophis goweri, the endangered Indian rock python (Python molurus), Forsten's cat snake (Boiga forsteni), yellow-green cat snake (Boiga flaviviridis), Srilankan flying snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica), Nagarjun Sagar racer (Coluber bholanathi), green keelback (Rhabdophis plumbicolor), Duméril's black-headed snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus) and Indian reed snake (Liopeltis calamaria). Apart from the Big Four Indian venomous snakes, endemic ones like Beddome's coral snake (Calliophis beddomei), Indian green Bamboo pit viper (Trimeresurus gramineus), the rare King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) are also known from parts of this region.
Protected areas
Sanctuaries and national parks of the Eastern Ghats:
National Parks
Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha
Simlipal National Park, Odisha
Sri Venkateswara National Park, Andhra Pradesh
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, Odisha
Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Kapilasa Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Saptasajya Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka
Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
Reserves
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
Sunabeda Tiger Reserve, Odisha
According to a study published in 2018, the forest cover of the Eastern Ghats has shrunk drastically since 1920, and several plant species endemic to this region face the threat of extinction.
See also
Coromandel Coast
Javadi Hills
Malli Amman Durgham
Nallamala Hills
Simhachalam Hill Range
Sri Venkateswara National Park
Western Ghats
References
Mountain ranges of India
Landforms of Tamil Nadu
Landforms of Andhra Pradesh
Landforms of Odisha
Landforms of Karnataka
Landforms of Telangana
Physiographic provinces