Western Ghats

Published on 31 Jan 2025

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India, are a mountain range brimming with biodiversity. Their lush landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and vital water sources make them ecologically significant.

Formation of Western Ghats

Tectonic activity: The formation of Western Ghats was initiated by the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates.
Upliftment: The subduction of the Indian Plate caused the land along the western margin to rise along a fault line forming the escarpment of the Western Ghats.
Erosion: Over millions of years, erosion carved the escarpment into the steep slopes and valleys that characterize the mountains today.

Characteristic features of Western Ghats

Age: Western Ghats is considered to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, having been formed about 150 million years ago.

Example: Anamudi, the Highest peak in Kerala which is a part of the Western Ghats

Rivers and watersheds: Numerous rivers originate from the Western Ghats which play a vital role in peninsular India's water resources.

Example: Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri

Diverse ecosystems: The Western Ghats exhibit a remarkable diversity of ecosystems home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Example: Tropical evergreen forests in the lower elevations to montane grasslands and shola forests in the higher elevations.

Influence on monsoons: Blocks southwest monsoon leading to rainfall in Kerala side and drought-like dry conditions in Tamil Nadu.
Block Mountains: Western Ghats are Block Mountains formed due to the downwarping of a part of the land into the Arabian Sea.
Age: Western Ghats is considered to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, having been formed about 150 million years ago.

Vulnerabilities of Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are prone to various natural disasters, including:

Landslides: Causing widespread destruction, including damage to infrastructure, homes, and farmland.

Example: Raigad Irshawadi landslides in 2021

Flash floods: The Western Ghats are also prone to flash floods, which can occur suddenly and with great force.

Example: 2018 Kerala floods

Torrential rains: The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September.
Wildfires: Western Ghats have experienced an increase in wildfires in recent years causing significant damage to forests and wildlife.

Example: Bhor forest fires 2022

Cause of vulnerabilities

Steep slope and weathering: The Western Ghats have steep slopes, making them more susceptible to landslides.
Weathering: The region experiences high rainfall and humidity, leading to the weathering of rocks and soil, which weakens the slopes.
Human activities: Unaccounted construction and mining leading to loss of stability of the region and habitat fragmentation of wildlife.
Climate change: This leads to heavy and concentrated down poor and thus causes flash floods.