Studies on Coastal Geomorphology along Visakhapatnam to Bhimunipatnam, East Coast of India

An attempt has been made to study and record the diverse coastal geomorphic features along Visakhapatnam - Bhimunipatnam coast. The study area is marked by geomorphic features resulted from various coastal and land ward processes. The geomorphic units under different heads namely, features formed by present day wave action, features formed due to sea level oscillations and features formed by rock and sea water interaction have been presented. The influence of sea level oscillations and land and sea interaction forms a diverse coastal geomorphology along the coast. The details of features such as beach, dune system, inter tidal deposits, red sediments, wave cut platform, marine terrace, sea stack, sea cave, serpent hood structures, promontories, wind gap and natural bridge have been recorded and the formation as well as significance of their occurrence are presented. The coastal geomorphology of the study area clearly established not only the sea level oscillations but also variations in climatic conditions in this part of the coast.