3.5.1. Western Coastal Plains

West Coastal Plain extends along the Arabian Sea from the Rann of Kutchch in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. These plains are an example of submerged coastal plain. Because of this submergence it is a narrow belt and provides natural conditions for the development of ports and harbours. Kandla, Mazagaon, JLN port Navha Sheva, Marmagao, Mangalore, Cochin, etc. are important natural ports.

Extending from the Gujarat coast in the north to the Kerala coast in the south, the western coast may be divided into following divisions – the Kutch and Kathiawar coast in Gujarat, Konkan coast in Maharashtra, Goan coast and Malabar coast in Karnataka and Kerala respectively. The plains of Gujarat are made up of black soil. There are a number of long and narrow lagoons on Malabar Coast. Kochi port is situated on one of the lagoons. These plains are narrow in the middle and get broader towards north and south. The rivers flowing through this coastal plain do not form any delta. The Malabar coast has got certain distinguishing features in the form of ‘Kayals’(backwaters), used for fishing, inland navigation, tourism.