Palghat Gap: A break in the Western Ghats

Source: The post is based on the article “Palghat Gap: A break in the Western Ghats” published in The Hindu on 16th May 2023

What is the News?

The Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats is a significant break in the mountain range, measuring about 40 km wide.

What is Palghat Gap?

Palghat Gap is often called a significant discontinuity in the Western Ghats. The Gap is about 40 km wide, with the steep Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, both rising above 2,000 meters on either side.

Important Gateway: The Gap has historically been important as a significant gateway into the State of Kerala. It is a corridor for both roads and railways that connects Coimbatore with Palakkad.

River: The Bharathappuzha River flows through it. 

Vegetation: In contrast to the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats, the vegetation in the Palghat Gap is classified as dry evergreen forest. 

Geological Features: The Gap is a geological shear zone that runs from east to west.

Note: Shear zones are weak regions in the earth’s crust — this is the reason behind the rare tremors felt in the region Coimbatore.

Origin: The origin of the Palghat Gap stems from the drift of continental shelves after Australia and Africa broke off from the Gondwana landmass. 

Rainfall: The Western Ghats in the north of the Palghat Gap receive more rain annually, but the south gets rain more evenly throughout the year. 

Biodiversity: The Gap marks a divide in the flora and fauna of the region. For example, several species of frogs are found only on one side of the Gap. 

– Moreover, elephant populations on the Nilgiris side differ in their mitochondrial DNA from elephants in the Anamalai and the Periyar sanctuaries.