Palakkad Gap

Coordinates: 10°43′07″N 76°52′55″E / 10.718550°N 76.881966°E / 10.718550; 76.881966
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Palakkad Gap
Elevation
140 metres (460 ft)
LocationTamil Nadu - Kerala , India
RangeWestern Ghats
Coordinates10°43′07″N 76°52′55″E / 10.718550°N 76.881966°E / 10.718550; 76.881966
Palakkad Gap is located in Tamil Nadu
Palakkad Gap

Palakkad Gap or Palghat Gap is a low

Nilgiri Hills to the north and Anaimalai Hills to the south.[1]

Origin and History

Topography- Palakkad (Palghat) Gap & Bharathappuzha River (River Ponnani)
Relative Elevation of Palakkad Gap, depicted in DEM

There are various theories about the origin of Palakkad gap. One among them is that it is caused by the landslide due to rivers flowing in opposite directions. The Bharathappuzha river from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu (River Ponnani) flows through the Palakkad Gap, collects water from various rivulets and tributaries feeding from steep escarpment slopes along the flanks of the Ghats.[2] Another theory suggests that the gap may be created by an asteroid strike around 800 million to 550 million years ago.[3]

A study published in 2008 suggest that it is the continuation of a Precambrian shear-zone that extended from east Africa through Ranotsara Gap of Madagascar to Palakkad Gap in India.[4]

Palakkad gap has played a major role in enabling human migration into Kerala from parts of Tamil Nadu. From 300 B.C. to 13th century, it also helped the

Cheras rule the entire Kerala and the Kongu Nadu as one geographical unit from Karur in Western Tamil Nadu. Tamil Brahmins migrated to Palakkad from Central Tamil Nadu via the Palakkad gap from the 15th century to 18th century.[5]

There is also another theory which suggest that this Palakkad Gap is formed out due to a massive Astroid attack at Coimbatore Area which leads to the formation of

Kaveri Crater (it is considered to be forth largest crater surface on the earth) and due to which a hill terrain which already existed in that area might be wiped out due to the massive impact which leads to the subsequent formation of Palakkad Gap.[6] [7]

Effect on weather

The gap affects the weather patterns in Southern India as it allows the moisture-laden

Southwest monsoon winds into western Tamil Nadu, moderating summer temperatures and generating greater rainfall in the region relative to the rest of lowland Tamil Nadu. It affects rainfall activity in parts of western Tamil Nadu, around Coimbatore, Palladam, Kangeyam, Dharapuram, Udumalai by allowing moisture laden winds from the West Coastal region of Kerala and Arabian Sea. It also allows the hot winds coming from Tamil Nadu which warm the eastern part of Kerala significantly compared to the rest of the state and the tropical cyclone winds from Bay of Bengal bearing rain during the summer.[citation needed
]

Transport and trade

The gap is the lowest pass through the Western Ghats in the region. It is an important mountain pass in the Western Ghats that runs along the entire eastern edge of Kerala isolating it from the neighboring Tamil Nadu. It acts as an important transport corridor between the two States by linking

Coimbatore District
of Tamil Nadu and has served as a vital trade route between the east and west coasts of peninsular India since ancient times.

Both the

Jolarpettai - Shoranur railway line , Palakkad - Pollachi railway line joining Kerala to Tamil Nadu pass through the gap. The gap also helps for VHF line of sight communications
between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Wind Energy

The Palakkad Gap funnels the winds blowing from the west on to

.

See also

Gallery

  • Palghat Gap as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur railway line
    Palghat Gap as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur railway line
  • Palghat Gap as seen from Palghat-Chitoor Road
    Palghat Gap as seen from Palghat-Chitoor Road
  • Western Ghats as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur rail line
    Western Ghats as seen from Coimbatore-Shoranur rail line
  • View of Ghats
    View of Ghats
  • Palghat-Coimbatore NH 544 - NH 66 (re-numbered NH 47) runs through the gap
    Palghat-Coimbatore
    NH 544 - NH 66 (re-numbered NH 47)
    runs through the gap
  • Southern end of the gap
    Southern end of the gap
  • One end of the gap
    One end of the gap
  • A passenger train in Palghat gap
    A passenger train in Palghat gap

References

  1. ^ "Britannica Encyclopedia". Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  2. ^ Nair, Dr. S. Sathis Chandran, (20 May 2004). A Note on the Ecological Impact of the Proposed Pathrakkadavu Hydro-Electric Project (PHEP) in the Kunthi River, Palakkad District of Kerala: India - Silent Valley Rainforest Under Threat Once More
  3. ^ Did an asteroid hit south India millions of years ago?, (19 Jan 2019)Is the land between present day Nilgiris and Kodaikanal located on a crater formed by the impact?
  4. ISSN 0974-6889
    .
  5. ^ "History of Kerala Iyers,migration of Tamil Brahmins to Kerala". www.kuzhalmannamagraharam.info. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Kaveri Crater – An Impact Structure in the Precambrian Terrain of Southern India".
  7. S2CID 134717819
    .
  8. ^ "Tiruppur District Official Webpage". Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  9. ^ "TamilNadu Energy Development Agency". Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.

External links