**Eastern Ghats**

The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains that run parallel to the eastern coast of India. Here are some key points to differentiate the Eastern Ghats from the Western Ghats:

**1. Location:**
The Eastern Ghats stretch along the eastern coast of India, covering states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. They extend from the Mahanadi River valley in Odisha to the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.

**2. Altitude:**
Compared to the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats have relatively lower altitudes. The average elevation of the Eastern Ghats is around 600 meters, with the highest peak being Jindhagada Peak in Odisha, which reaches approximately 1,690 meters.

**3. Geology and Formation:**
The Eastern Ghats are older and more eroded compared to the Western Ghats. They are composed of various rock formations like granite, gneiss, and schist. The range was formed during the ancient times due to tectonic activities, and subsequent erosion shaped the terrain.

**4. Biodiversity:**
The Eastern Ghats are known for their rich biodiversity, but they are relatively less diverse compared to the Western Ghats. The forests of the Eastern Ghats mainly consist of dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and patches of evergreen forests. The region is home to various wildlife species, including elephants, leopards, deer, and several endemic bird species.

**Western Ghats**

The Western Ghats are a continuous mountain range along the western coast of India. Here are some distinctive features of the Western Ghats:

**1. Location:**
The Western Ghats run parallel to the western coast of India, covering states like Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. They extend from the Tapi River valley in Gujarat to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.

**2. Altitude:**
Compared to the Eastern Ghats, the Western Ghats have higher average elevations. The range includes several peaks reaching over 2,000 meters, with Anamudi in Kerala being the highest at 2,695 meters.

**3. Geology and Formation:**
The Western Ghats are relatively younger and less eroded compared to the Eastern Ghats. They are composed of a mix of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The range was formed due to the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, resulting in uplift and folding of the crust.

**4. Biodiversity:**
The Western Ghats are recognized as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots due to their exceptional species richness and endemism. They support a wide range of ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, grasslands, and shola forests. The region is home to numerous endangered species such as the Bengal tiger, lion-tailed macaque, and Nilgiri tahr. The Western Ghats also have a higher density of endemic plant and animal species compared to the Eastern Ghats.

In summary, the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats differ in terms of their location, altitude, geology, formation, and biodiversity. While the Eastern Ghats are older, lower in altitude, and less diverse, the Western Ghats are younger, higher in altitude, and renowned for their exceptional biodiversity. Both mountain ranges play a significant role in shaping the climate,

Eastern ghats:i) mark the eastern edge of the Deccan plateau.ii) lower average elevation is 600 metre.iii) soil is not fertile as western ghats, rice, cotton etc.are grown.Western ghats:i) Mark the western edge of the Deccan Plateau.ii) Higher average elevation is 900 to 1600 metre.iii) soil is highly fertile, species, rubber and fruits like nuts etc.are grown.