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The Western Ghats of India Large Dams Numerous large, hydroelectric dams — such as this one at Upper Kodryar in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu — have been constructed in some of the most sensitive ecosystems of the Western Ghats. Roads built to facilitate dam building have lead to further habitat disturbance, such as illegal logging and poaching. Ironically many dams have short life spans because they fill with sediment from deforested slopes. Furthermore, when the natural forests and grasslands are destroyed and replaced by manmade constructs and plantations, the mountains give less water to the plains that the dams were built to irrigate. < Previous | Back to Thumbnails   Photos and captions courtesy of Ian Lockwood Up to Top