India has a coastline of 7516.6 km-- 5422.6 km of mainland coastline and 2094 km of island territories. Indian coastline touches nine states-- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and two union territories-- Daman and Diu and Puducherry. The two island territories of India are-- Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.
| Coastal Data | |
| Length of Coastline | 7516.6 km |
| Total Land Area | 3,287,263 km2 |
| Area of the continental shelf | 372,424 km2 |
| Territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles) | 193,834 km2 |
| Exclusive Economic Zone | 2.02 x 106 million km2 |
| Coastal Geomorphology (Mainland) | |
| Sandy Beach | 43% |
| Rocky Coast | 11% |
| Muddy Flats | 36% |
| Marshy Coast | 10% |
| Coastline affected by erosion | 1624.435 km mainland 132 (islands) (CPDAC) |
| Population of the Coastal States and UTs | 560 million |
| Population of Island Territories | 0.44 million |
List of cyclones in India in 2019-20
1- Gujarat
Gujarat has the longest coastline in India which lies in the Kathiawar region of the state and is 1,600 km long. This coastline is surrounded by the Arabian Sea and is dotted with 41 ports-- 1 Major and 40 Intermediate or Minor. Some of the beaches of Gujarat are-- Diu, Dwarka, Porbandar, etc.
2- Tamil Nadu
The coastline in the state of Tamil Nadu is the second largest coastline in India (1,076 km long) and is known as the coromandel coast. It is bounded by Utkal Plains in the north, Bay of Bengal in the east, Kaveri delta in the south and the Eastern Ghats in the West. Rice, pulses, sugarcane cotton and peanuts are the main crops of this region. Coconut plantation is done along the coromandel coast. It also has major seaports-- Tuticorin and Chennai, fishing harbours, Marina Beach (largest natural urban beach in India) and Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.
3- Andhra Pradesh
The state of Andhra Pradesh has the third-longest coastline in India and lies in the region of Coastal Andhra. The coastline is 972 km long along with the Coromandel Coast between the Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal. This coastline has rich agricultural land due to the delta-- Godavari Krishna river and Penna. Rice is the main crop of the region following pulses and coconut plantations. It has 12 Major Ports.
4- Maharashtra
The state of Maharashtra has a coastline of 720 km and is known as Konkan Coast. It is bounded by the mountain range of Western Ghats in the east, the Arabian Sea in the West, Daman Ganga River in the north and the Gangavalli River in the south. Major agricultural crops of the region are rice, millets, pulses, coconut, etc. The Konkan coastline is dotted with many beaches and is an ideal getaway for the people of Pune and Mumbai. It has 53 ports-- 2 Major and 51 Minor or Intermediate.
5- Kerala
Kerala has the fifth largest coastline of 590 km in India and is called Malabar Coast. It starts from the south-western coast of Maharashtra and along the coastal region of Goa, through the entire western coast of Karnataka and Kerala and reaches Kanyakumari. It has the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. Malabar coast is famous for beautiful scenarios, tea and coffee plantations, beaches, brackish water lakes, etc. It has 13 Major Ports.
6- Odisha
The state of Odisha has a coastline of 485 km long called coastal Odisha or the Utkal Plains. The region is bounded by the Lower Ganges Plain in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Tamilnad Plains in the south, and the Eastern Ghats in the west. This region has Chilka lake (largest lake in the country), the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, beaches (Chandipur, Gopalpur, etc.) and Bhitarkanika (second largest mangrove ecosystem). It has only one Major Port.
7- Karnataka
The coastal area of Karnataka is known as Kanara which is 300 km long. The region is bounded by Konkan in the north, the Western Ghats in the east, Kerala Plains in the South and the Arabian Sea in the west. It has several tourist destinations-- Maravanthe, St. Mary's Island Beach, etc. It has three districts-- Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina. It has 10 Major Ports and 2 Minor/Intermediate Ports.
8- Goa
Goa is the smallest Indian state with a coastline of 131 km long. It is home to many beautiful beaches in the world. It is surrounded by the Indian states of Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka in the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast. The soil of Goa is rich in ferric-aluminium oxides and reddish in colour. The soil inland and along the riverbanks is mostly alluvial and loamy. As the soil is rich in minerals and humus, it is conducive to agriculture. It has one Major Port and 5 Minor Ports.
9- West Bengal
The coastal plain of West Bengal is located in Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas district and has a coastline of 158 km long. The Sundarbans delta of West Bengal is the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is home to a wide range of fauna and is famous for the royal Bengal swamp tiger. Agriculture is the leading economic sector in West Bengal. Rice, potato, jute, sugarcane, and wheat are the major crops of West Bengal. It has only one Major Port.
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