Boat Forms of Karnataka and Goa Coasts

The coast to the north of Kerala stretching from the Netravati river mouth (Mangalore) to the wide Kali river mouth (Karwar) lies in Karnataka State and is traditionally known as the Kanara coast. North of the Kali mouth upto the Terekhol river mouth, the coast lies in Goa. It was under the rule of the Portuguese from early sixteenth century, till 1961. This entire coastal stretch is underlain by archean granite, and gneisses intruded by the Dharwar formations, especially the quartzites. This underlying lithology and geology leads to a progressively northward narrowing coastal plain drained by short but swift streams that are well-watered by the southwest monsoon rains. The coast lies in the direct hit path of the monsoon and is hence sharply marked by features of wave erosion, especially headlands and sea-cliffs separated by shallow, crescentic bays. The coast has plenty of offshore rocky islands, such as the St. Mary Isles, Coconut Isle, Pigeon, Hog and Murdeshwar Islands, Basavarajdurg Island, Anjadweep, Devgad Isles, and St. George’s Islands, from south to north. The coast has a distinctive character, with the 10 metres under-water contour, practically hugging the coast, which is full of under-water rocks, reef platforms and shoals. The coast is quite hazardous for navigational approaches to the shores. This probably explains the predominance of small water-crafts since early days and the relative lack of larger sea-going vessels.