Geography & Geology

Geography & Geology

In addition to being a port and a fishing hub, Malpe is also a beach town. Close to the mainland of Malpe are four rocky islands known as St Mary group of islands. These islands are made up of dacite type of volcanic rocks.The volcanic rock exposures in the islands show well developed rare hexagonal columnar joints. Because of these rare rock features Geological Survey of India has recognized these islands as a national geological monument. The St Mary volcanic rocks are radiometrically dated and found to be 98 million years old. Whereas the granites and gneisses exposed in Malpe mainland are part of the Kanara granite complex, considered to be about 2600 million year old.

• The northern most island is known as Coconut island or Tonse par or St. Mary's Islands famous tourist spot because of columnar jointed volcanic rocks.
• The next island from north is known as Northern island.
• The third larger island from north is known as Daria-Bahadurgad.
• Kari-Illada-Kallu is the southernmost island.
• Daria-Gadara-Kalluthe, smaller islands are situated in between the above islands.