Why Are Deltas Formed on the East Coast of India?

Why Are Deltas Formed on the East Coast of India?
  
  
Understanding deltas: 
A delta forms where a river meets still water and slows enough to drop its sediment load. It has a characteristic fan/triangle shape, building new land outward into the sea

Geographical Reasons for the formation of deltas on East coast
 1. Gentle Slope
Rivers like the Ganga, Godavari, and Krishna flow through gently sloping plains, reducing their velocity and allowing sediment to settle near the coast.
  
2. Broad Continental Shelf
The east coast has a shallow and wide shelf, allowing sediments to spread laterally and accumulate over time.
 
3. Low Wave and Tidal Energy
The Bay of Bengal is relatively calm compared to the Arabian Sea. Low wave action reduces erosion, allowing deposition to dominate.
  
4. Large Sediment Load
East-flowing rivers originate in the Himalayas and Peninsular regions, carrying huge quantities of alluvium that aid delta formation.
  
5. Long River Courses
Many rivers travel long distances before reaching the sea, increasing the opportunity for sediment deposition.
  
6. Favorable Conditions
These factors lead to the formation of fertile, fan-shaped deltas like:
• Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta
 
  • Godavari Delta
    
• Krishna Delta
 
 • Cauvery Delta
     
• Mahanadi Delta
    
 Why Not on the West Coast?
  1. Steep Continental Shelf

The continental shelf is the submerged extension of the continent under the sea.
  
On the west coast, this shelf is narrow and steep, meaning the sea bed drops off quickly.
  
As a result, rivers rapidly      drop their sediments into deep water, where they get scattered and do      not accumulate near the mouth of the river.
  
Delta formation requires shallow      and wide shelves to allow sediment buildup, which is more typical of      the east coast.
 

  
2. High Gradient Rivers
  
Rivers on the west coast like the      Narmada, Tapi, and Mandovi have shorter courses and steeper      gradients.
  
A steep gradient causes the river      to flow swiftly, carrying sediments quickly to the sea without      giving time for deposition.
  
In contrast, east coast rivers      like the Ganga, Godavari, and Krishna have gentle slopes, which encourage      sediment deposition and delta formation.
  
3. Strong Tidal Currents and Erosional Forces
  
The Arabian Sea      experiences stronger wave action, tides, and coastal currents      compared to the Bay of Bengal.
  
These forces erode the      coastline and wash away river sediments, making it difficult      for deltas to form.
  
Deltas require calmer water      bodies to allow sediments to settle and accumulate, which is more      prevalent on the east coast.
   
4. Lack of Large River Systems
  
The west coast mainly has short      rivers with small drainage basins and limited water and      sediment flow.
  
Examples include Periyar,      Mandovi, Narmada, and Tapi.
  
These rivers do not carry      enough sediment to create large deltas.
  
The east coast, by contrast, has huge      river systems like the Ganga-Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, and      Mahanadi, which carry massive amounts of sediment and form      large deltas.
  

5. Western Ghats Proximity to the Coast 
The Western Ghats are a      mountain range that runs very close and parallel to the west coast.
  
This leaves very little flat      land between the mountains and the sea for rivers to meander, slow      down, or deposit sediments.
  
Without space to spread out, rivers      cannot form distributaries, which are essential for delta formation.
  
On the east coast, Eastern      Ghats are more eroded and lie farther inland, giving rivers more room      to spread out and form deltas.