The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak.[18]. Height – 690 meter; Amboli ghat pass is situated in Western ghat mountains and is located in Sindhudurg district of south Maharashtra. Kumbharali Ghat is located in the Western Ghats category and connects the Konkan region of coastal Ratnagiri with the Satara … (2014). [20] Most notable of these projects are the Koyna in Maharashtra, Linganmakki and krishna Raja Sagara in Karnataka, Mettur and Pykara in Tamil Nadu, Parambikulam, Malampuzha and Idukki in Kerala. The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region. [42] The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations. [5] According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. This ghat is on the way from Kolhapur to Sawantwadi. The area chosen for this study comes under the Sahyadri range in the state of Maharashtra and is rep-resented by prominent peaks like Kalsubai (1646 m), old The team came across the population of this species in August 2019, and a close examination revealed that it was new and endemic to the northern Western Ghats. Amboli ghat pass provides passage that connects Sawantwadi of Maharashtra to Belgaum of Karnataka. Species that are rare, endemic and habitat specialists are more adversely affected and tend to be lost faster than other species. The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamiraparani and Tungabhadra rivers. Golden frog or also known as small wood frog and Trivandrum frog, endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala and found in a wide variety of habitats including coastal, bamboo and rice paddies. The orchids bloom here for a period of 3–4 weeks during this season. The Western Ghats must be visited for so many good reasons specially to enjoy monsoon. In the months of monsoon, the entire stretch transforms into a green bed with gushing … [56] All but one (Tor khudree) of these are endemic to the Western Ghats. The plateau experiences a natural cycle of extreme conditions, with wet water-logged cool monsoons, very dry hot summer (45 °C) and dry winter (5 °C). Changes in the direction and pace of the wind do affect the average rainfall and the wettest places might vary. [39][40][41], These hill ranges serve as important wildlife corridors and form an important part of Project Elephant and Project Tiger reserves. Denison's barb is threatened from habitat loss and is now bred in captivity. Domestic cattle compete to a certain extent with wild mammals. Valley of Amboli road that connects combined to West Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. Above 1,000 meters elevation are the cooler and wetter North Western Ghats montane rain forests, whose evergreen forests are characterised by trees of the family Lauraceae. It is a biodiversity hotspot known for various types of seasonal wild flowers bloom and numerous species of endemic butterflies annually in the months of August and September. satara.gov.in). [56], There are at least 508 bird species. [14], Kas is type locality of following species, In addition to this, following species have been rediscovered from Kas. (2002). The basalt rock is covered by a thin cover of soil formed due to erosion and has accumulated a layer of not more than an inch or so. Geophysical evidence indicates that the west coast of India came into being somewhere around 100 to 80 mya after it broke away from Madagascar. The Western Ghats have several man-made lakes and reservoirs with major lakes at Ooty (34 hectares (84 acres)) in Nilgiris, Kodaikanal (26 hectares (64 acres)) and Berijam in Palani Hills, Pookode lake, Karlad Lake in Wayanad, Vagamon lake, Devikulam (6 hectares (15 acres)) and Letchmi (2 hectares (4.9 acres)) in Idukki, Kerala. Herbaceous plant communities of this plateau were systematically surveyed during 2004-2006 as a part of Department of Science and Technology funded project on plant communities of rocky plateaus. This ghat is one of the tourist attractions in Maharashtra. The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the rainforests of the mountains. Kumbharli Ghat. It is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. The most serious threat is establishment of invasive weeds, which are introduced through foreign soils and can compete with the indigenous flora. The average annual temperature is around 15 °C (59 °F). The Western and the Eastern Ghats are situated in the Peninsular Plateau region. Abstracts, Edited by Lalitha Vijayan, Saconr. Major waterfalls include Dudhsagar, Unchalli, Most of Karnataka's five hundred species of birds are from the Western Ghats region. Many of the endemic, endangered plants are found on Plateau. Rainfall in this region averages 300 centimetres (120 in) to 400 centimetres (160 in) with localised extremes reaching 900 centimetres (350 in). In a sampling area of 25 sq.m, H’ =3.88 and 40 herbaceous species were reported in September 2004, followed by H’ =3.971 and 29 herbaceous species in September 2005, indicating rich herbaceous diversity. The plateau is largely formed of basalt which is directly exposed to atmosphere. Clement Ben, Kolhapur’s chief conservator of forests, hailed the decision as historic, saying that it will ensure the entire stretch of diverse Western Ghats section in Maharashtra is protected. [26] Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall is also near from Kaas which is one of India's highest waterfalls.[27]. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight hot-spots of biological diversityin the world. The mountains intercept the rain-bearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, particularly on their western side. [27] Silent Valley in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India. Kaas plateau is a plateau located around 25 km from Satara. The Western Ghats region has the largest Indian elephant population in India. There are many temples here. The region has a significant population of the vulnerable mugger crocodile.[49]. This Ghat is on the way from Kolhapur to Sawantwadi. The Western Ghats also known as Sahyadri mountains, is a mountain range in the west of peninsular India. Varandha Ghat. The climate is humid and tropical in the lower reaches tempered by the proximity to the sea. Many popular books have appeared in Marathi and English, including photoguides by Shrotri (2007),[18] Shrikant Ingalhallikar (Flowers of Kas 2012), and another by Satara Forest department in 2012. Kaas lake is on the south of the Kaas Plateau and is surrounded by dense forest. So far, the team has conducted multiple expeditions in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka as part of the project fieldwork. [59] The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri, and larger species such as the Malabar snakehead and Malabar mahseer. It is not known to many that the Western Ghats of our country make for a popular trekking hub. [17][21][22] During the monsoon season, numerous streams fed by incessant rain drain off the mountain sides leading to numerous waterfalls. A list of lichen species from Kas area has been compiled by Dr. Gayatri Chitale & Archana Dube during their doctoral studies from Maharashtra which includes 14 species of macro lichens and 6 species of micro lichens found on Kas plateau. The plants growing on Kas plateau are typically of herbaceous nature of like grasses. p.1700, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, "UN designates Western Ghats as world heritage site", "39 sites in Western Ghats get world heritage status", "Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India", Discover sublime India: handbook for tourists, "Western Ghats - UNESCO World Heritage Centre", "7 major mountain ranges in India: Some of the highest mountains in the world", "Coldwater fish and fisheries in the Western Ghats, India", "Tremors may rock Koyna for another two-decade", "Biodiversity of the Western Ghats – An Overview", "Camp at world's highest tea estate Kolukkumalai", "Impact of rainforest fragmentation on small mammals and herpetofauna in the Western Ghats, South India", "No clearance for mining, hydel projects that destroy Western Ghat", "Gundia project has not got Centre's nod", "Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel", "World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster", "Mammals of the Western Ghats: A Simplistic Overview", "Behavioural studies: A necessity for wildlife management", "Indian National Studbook of Nilgiri Langur (, "Status of the Tigers, co-predators, and Prey in India", "Nilgiri tahr population over 3,000: WWF-India", "An evaluation of the endemism of the amphibian assemblages from the Western Ghats using molecular techniques", "New 'mysterious' frog species discovered in India's Western Ghats", "Two new species of the genus Schistura McClell and (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) from western Ghats, India", "Unraveling a 146 Years Old Taxonomic Puzzle: Validation of Malabar Snakehead, Species-Status and Its Relevance for Channid Systematics and Evolution", "Karnataka forest department (forests at a glance – Bio-diversity", Daniels, R.J. Ranjit, Wildlife institute of India, "Biodiversity in the Western Ghats", Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. [citation needed]. An additional 26 species from the region are considered data deficient (their status is unclear at present). Western Ghats are home to many hill stations like Matheran, Lonavala-Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Amboli Ghat, Kudremukh and Kodagu. [71], Mountain range along the western coast of India. Kaas plateau is a plateau located near Satara. Monsoon is the perfect time to visit here to watch the beautiful dewdrops of rains in lush greenery oozing out from every nook and corner. Kaas plateau is a World Natural Heritage site, part of the Sahyadri Sub-cluster. At lower elevations are the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, with Cullenia the characteristic tree genus, accompanied by teak, dipterocarps, and other trees. The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area; areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to the equator receive less annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year.[23]. The heavy, eastward-moving rain-bearing clouds are forced to rise and in the process deposit most of their rain on the windward side. Sunithi L. Narayan, Revathy Nagaswami, 1992. The easily visible ecological impacts of tourism are high levels of vegetation trampling, microhabitat damage and solid waste problem. It is mostly covered with equatorial tropical evergreen forests. Best Passes and Ghat Roads of Maharashtra are Malshej Ghat, Tamhini Ghat,Amboli Ghat,Kumbharli Ghat, Bopdev Ghat,Dive Ghat,Shidi Ghat,Ganesh Ghat and Upande Ghat. Among the villages to be excluded are some where companies have been pulled up for pollution and for operating without environmental permissions. Fairy shrimps are present in the small pond. Endemic genera include the toads Pedostibes, Ghatophryne, Xanthophryne; arboreal frogs such as Ghatixalus, Mercurana and Beddomixalus; and microhylids like Melanobatrachus. Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussels Pseudomulleria dalyi, which is a Gondwanan relict, and the snail Cremnoconchus, which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls. Many road kills of snakes have been reported. Presence of Leopard has been reported from the surrounding forest area. Other articles where Western Ghats is discussed: Anai Peak: Located in the Western Ghats range, it rises to 8,842 feet (2,695 metres) and is peninsular India’s highest peak. The plateau also has several invertebrates throughout the year. [46] About 3500 lion-tailed macaques live scattered over several areas in the Western Ghats.[47]. In the southern part of the range is Anamudi (2,695 metres (8,842 ft)), the highest peak in the Western Ghats. Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana some 150 million years ago. Malshej Ghat is known for its rugged hills, curvy road,dark woods and different kinds of flora and fauna especially avifauna such as quails, rails, crakes, flamingos and cuckoos. After the break-up, the western coast of India would have appeared as an abrupt cliff some 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. Varandha Ghat or mountain passage is situated on the crest of the Western Ghat mountain ranges and known for its surroundings, scenic waterfalls, lakes and dense woods. Koyna project is around 30 km towards the south of Kaas Lake. The southern ecoregions are generally wetter and more species-rich. A Joint Forest Management Committee has been constituted to manage tourist inflow. The moist forests transition to the drier South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests, which lie in its rain shadow to the east. Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is located near this place. The town is small but famous for Koyna Dam and the Koyna Hydroelectric Project which is the largest completed hydroelectric project of India. The majestic Malshej Ghat located in the Western Ghats range in Pune district of Maharashtra. [25], Bhambavli Flower Plateau, largest flower platea of the world is situated 3 km away from Kaas Plateau (reference - www. This is a mountain range that run parallel to India's west coast from Kerala to Maharashtra. It has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species, and 290 freshwater fish species. New frog species were described from the Western Ghats in 2005, and more recently a new species, monotypic of its genus Mysticellus, was discovered. The Western Ghats have 67 species of damselflies. Windmills in the Koyna Sanctuary, Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Montane forests and Tropical moist forests are also found here. Bhattarai et al. As of 2004[update], 288 freshwater fish species were listed for the Western Ghats, including 35 also known from brackish or marine water. [56], There is a higher fish richness in the southern part of the Western Ghats than in the northern,[56] and the highest is in the Chalakudy River, which alone holds 98 species. The origin of the sacred Godavari river is near Trimbak. Two passes in the Sahyadri mountains are the Palakkad Gap and the Thal Ghat. View from Varandha Pass near Mahad in Maharashtra, with numerous waterfalls, Jog Falls in Karnataka, said to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in India, Chembra Peak, as seen from Pookode Lake in Kerala. The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes with major reservoirs spread across the states. [11][56][57] The region is home to several brilliantly coloured ornamental fishes like the Denison (or red line torpedo) barb,[58] melon barb, several species of Dawkinsia barbs, zebra loach, Horabagrus catfish, dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish. Mean temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in the south to 24 °C (75 °F) in the north. The Western Ghats better known as Sahyadri range is a hilly range running parallel to the coast, at an average elevation of 1,200 m, is one of the hot spots of biodiversity in India. It is situated in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Major gaps in the range are the Goa Gap, between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections, and the Palghat Gap on the Tamil Nadu and Kerala border between the Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills. Surrounding villages Thane districts in Maharashtra indicates that the coldest periods in the Sahyadris, Nashik... 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