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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
[[File:A Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam.jpg|thumb|Boat in River Gosthani at [[Bheemunipatnam]]]]
[[File:Buddhist sites Map of Andhra Pradesh.png|thumb|Many Important Buddhist sites of Northern Andhra Pradesh lie along the basin of River Gosthani as [[Pavurallakonda]], Gudiwada Dibba, Pellikonda and Boni]]

The Gosthani rises in the [[Ananthagiri Hills]] of the Eastern Ghats and flows through the [[Borra Caves]] which lie near its source. It is the largest river flowing through [[Visakhapatnam]] city. It flows for 120 km before joining the Bay of Bengal through an estuary near [[Bheemunipatnam]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ganesh|first=B|title=Studies on textural characteristics of sediments from Gosthani River Estuary - Bheemunipatnam, A.P., East Coast of India|journal=Journal of the Indian Geophysical Union|date=April 2013|volume=17|issue=2|page=139|url=http://www.igu.in/17-2/3ganesh.pdf|access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A journey into the heart of nature|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/on-campus/a-journey-into-the-heart-of-nature/article4602904.ece|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Businessline|date=10 April 2013}}</ref> The river basin drains the two coastal districts of [[Vizianagaram district|Vizianagaram]] and [[Visakhapatnam district|Visakhapatnam]]. The basin exhibits a subdendritic and [[Dendritic drainage|dendritic pattern of drainage]].{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The Gosthani's is a minor river basin with a total [[drainage area]] of less than 2000 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project - Country Report on Pollution (India)|year=2011|page=18|url=http://www.boblme.org/documentRepository/BOBLME-2011-Ecology-07.pdf}}</ref> Much of the basin is covered by khondalite group of [[gneiss]]ic rocks. About 3% of the total area of the Visakhapatnam district is under the Gosthani basin.<ref>{{cite web|title=IRRIGATION PROFILE: VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT|url=http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VishakapatnamDistrictProfile.jsp|publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820124526/http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VishakapatnamDistrictProfile.jsp|archive-date=20 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The river is rainfed, receiving an average rainfall of 110 cm most of which comes from the [[south-west monsoon]].{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} There are several red sand hills near Bheemunipatnam, where the Gosthani joins the Bay of Bengal, which are reminiscent of the [[Chambal River|Chambal ravines]]. These are thought to have been formed six millennia ago due to shifts in the river's course following tectonic activity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Protect the landmark for the future|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/28/stories/2009032850360300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629090142/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/03/28/stories/2009032850360300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=28 March 2009}}</ref> The river joins the Bay of Bengal at Bhimli where it forms an [[estuary]].<ref name="asi">{{cite book|title=Indian Archaeology 2000-2001 - A Review|year=2006|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|location=New Delhi|pages=2, 3|url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20Archaeology%202000-2001%20A%20Review.pdf}}</ref>

== Historic places ==
Bheemunipatnam or Bhimli, located at the confluence of the river with the Bay of Bengal was one of the earliest outposts of the [[Dutch East India Company]] in India and there are many monuments from that era in the town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fifteen decades of glory|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/25/stories/2010092552240300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016060552/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/25/stories/2010092552240300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2010|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Andhra's English past|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/228219/F|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=19 February 2012}}</ref> Ancient [[Buddhism in India|Buddhist settlements]] at Pavuralakonda, near Bhimli and at Gudiwada have been excavated. The river is thought to have provided the inhabitants with drinking water and the estuary at Bhimli facilitated sea-borne trade.<ref name="asi" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Evidence of Buddhist site found|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/evidence-of-buddhist-site-found/article3980627.ece|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 October 2012}}</ref>

== Waterworks ==
[[File:Eastern Ghats view over Gosthani Reservoir at Tatipudi.jpg|thumb|Eastern Ghats view over Gosthani Reservoir at Tatipudi]]
The Gosthani's waters are diverted for agricultural and industrial purposes and the river is the chief source of drinking water to the cities of [[Vizianagaram]] and [[Visakhapatnam]].{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Several infiltration wells have been sunk on the Gosthani's [[Stream bed|riverbed]] to extract water especially during the summer months.<ref>{{cite news|title=Visakhapatnam's water problems may continue|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041203700200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419152236/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/12/stories/2006041203700200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 April 2006|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=12 April 2006}}</ref> The Thatipudi Reservoir Project with a capacity of 3 TMC was built on the Gosthani during 1963-68 and is located in the [[Gantyada]] Mandal of the Vizianagaram district. It irrigates {{convert|15378|acre|km2}} of land in Vizianagaram district and provides drinking water to Visakhapatnam.<ref>[http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VizayanagaramDistrictProfile.jsp Irrigation profile of Vizianagaram district. Thatipudi Reservoir Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020758/http://irrigation.cgg.gov.in/dp/VizayanagaramDistrictProfile.jsp |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> The Chaparai Falls, situated in a verdant valley, is on the Gosthani river.<ref>{{cite news|title=Green valley of delight|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/325675/green-valley-delight.html|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=14 April 2013}}</ref> The Visakhapatnam to [[Srikakulam]] leg of the [[Golden Quadrilateral|Golden Quadrilateral Highway]] crosses the Gosthani at Tagarapuvalasa where a new bridge was inaugurated in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=New bridges to be inaugurated in AP|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/12/11/stories/2003121102781700.htm|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu Businessline|date=11 December 2003}}</ref>

== Environmental issues ==
The decision to grant [[bauxite]] mining leases in Visakhapatnam by the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] has drawn criticism from local people, activists and the [[Government of India|Central Government]] who fear severe environmental damage along the source and [[Catchment area (hydrology)|catchment areas]] of the river due to the mining.<ref>{{cite news|title=Death Of Red Earth Foretold|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280388|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=Outlook|date=9 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribal minister Kishore Chandra Deo to urge governors to use special powers to cancel mining leases in tribal areas|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/india/34386487_1_tribal-areas-tribal-affairs-5th-schedule|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629090142/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/india/34386487_1_tribal-areas-tribal-affairs-5th-schedule|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=27 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=11 October 2012}}</ref> The decision to lease out the Gosthani's river bed to a private company for the extraction of [[groundwater]] through the sinking of [[borewell]]s is thought to have had serious consequences on the [[water table]] and [[water security]] of over 100,000 people in the region.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Beyond the last frontier|journal=Frontline|date=11–24 September 2004|volume=21|issue=19|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2119/stories/20040924006400800.htm|access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

== Image Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Gosthani River during rains near Borra Caves 01.jpg|Gosthani River during monsoon near Borra Caves
File:River Gosthani at Bhimasingi.jpg|River Gosthani at Bhimasingi
File:River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa 1.JPG|River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa
File:Sunset over River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa.jpg|Sunset over River Gosthani at Thagarapuvalasa
File:River Gosthani at bhimili.jpg|River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam
File:Sunset reflections over River Gosthani.jpg|Sunset reflections over River Gosthani
File:Boat view at Bheemili beach 01.jpg|Boat in River Gosthani at Bheemunipatnam beach
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gosthani River}}

{{Hydrography of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Eastern Ghats |state=expanded}}
{{coord missing|Andhra Pradesh}}

[[Category:Rivers of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Uttarandhra]]
[[Category:Geography of Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:Geography of Visakhapatnam district]]
[[Category:Geography of Vizianagaram district]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]

Gosthani River - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 17:31, 20 April 2021