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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.
