Question

Which are the only breaks in the long chain of hills that border Tamil Nadu in the West?
a. Palakkad gap and Shenkottai gap
b. Attur Pass
c. Chengam Pass
d. None of these

Answer 1

Hint:
The only state in India that has both the Western Ghat and the Eastern Ghat mountain ranges, both of which converge at the Nilgiri hills, is Tamil Nadu. It is hilly and rich in vegetation in the western, southern and north-western portions.

Complete solution:
The Palakkad gap and Shenkottai gap are the only breaks in the long chain of hills that border Tamil Nadu in the west.

In the Western Ghats, Palakkad Gap is a low mountain pass between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. With a width of 24-30 kilometres, it has an average elevation of 140 metres. Between the Nilgiri Hills to the north and Anaimalai Hills to the south, the pass is located.

Different hypotheses exist about the sources of the gap in Palakkad. One of them is the landslide caused by rivers flowing in opposite directions. The river Bharatha Puzha originates from rivulets and tributaries feeding from steep escarpment slopes along the Ghats' flanks in the Palakkad Gap.

The gap is the area's lowest pass through the Western Ghats. In the Western Ghats, it is an important mountain pass running along the entire eastern edge of Kerala, isolating it from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

In the Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu, India, Sengottai is a town. It is the gateway to Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south. The economy of the city revolves around the cultivation of rice, spread over an area of 2.68 km2 with a population of over 26,823. It is special for its Rahmath Border Parotta in Piranoor, Sengottai.

Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note:
 Tamil Nadu relies heavily on monsoon rains, and is thus vulnerable to droughts when the monsoons fail. The state's climate varies from sub-humid dry to semi-arid dry.