India has two main groups of coastal plains: the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains. How do they primarily differ from each other?
Options
The Western Coastal Plains are broader and have major deltas, while the Eastern Coastal Plains are narrower and without deltas.
The Western Coastal Plains receive less rainfall, while the Eastern Coastal Plains receive more rainfall.
The Western Coastal Plains are narrower and more rugged, while the Eastern Coastal Plains are broader and well-watered by large rivers forming deltas.
The Western Coastal Plains have more evergreen forests, while the Eastern Coastal Plains have only deciduous forests.
Explanation
The primary difference between the Western and Eastern Coastal Plains lies in their width and river systems. The Western Coastal Plains are relatively narrower and more rugged, situated between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. They feature short, fast-flowing rivers that do not form extensive deltas. In contrast, the Eastern Coastal Plains are much broader and flat, lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. They are watered by large, eastward-flowing rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, which form extensive and fertile deltas. Therefore, option C accurately highlights these distinguishing features. Options A, B, and D present incorrect or less significant differentiating characteristics.