Context

• Citizens join hands to preserve the geological marvel of Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam.

About Erra Matti Dibbalu

• Erra Matti Dibbalu, a geological marvel unique to the coast of Visakhapatnam.
• Located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu are rare red sand dunes that are a reminder of the million years of geological processes, and among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India.

  

• The dunes comprise a light yellow sand dune at the top followed by a brick red sand unit, and a reddish brown concretion bearing sand unit with yellow sand at the bottom.
• Stating that such sand deposits have been reported only from three low latitude tropical regions in South Asia — the Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu, the Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh and Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka – Rajashekhar adds that the dunes are very fragile and liable to natural degradation leading to a gradual loss of material.
• Studies indicate that the area was tectonically active between 2.5 million years and 11,000 years ago and the sediments are mainly derived from the Khondalite rocks from the hinterland of the Eastern Ghats.
• Geologically these red sand dune sediments particularly hold significance as they are the result of the combined effect of numerous factors including global climatic changes, sea-level variations, monsoonal variability and as a result serve as valuable paleo-environment indicators.
• It is interesting to note that the region was also the home to the prehistoric man as the excavations dug at several places in the region revealed stone implements of three distinctive periods and also the pottery of the Neolithic man.
• INTACH has been pushing for recognition of a geo park for Visakhapatnam consisting of Erra Matti Dibbalu, the natural rock formations at Mangamaripeta, the million-years-old Borra Caves and the volcanic ash deposits of Araku.

Source: TH

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