In which one of the following districts is the highest peak or highest point of the Eastern Ghats mountain system located?

Introduction / Context:
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous chain of hills running roughly parallel to the east coast of India. While less prominent than the Western Ghats, they still contain several important peaks and plateaus. Examinations sometimes ask about the location of the highest point of the Eastern Ghats, because this helps students fix key reference points on the physical map of India. This question focuses on the district in which that highest point lies.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The question refers specifically to the highest point or peak of the Eastern Ghats. • Options include Ganjam, Visakhapatnam, Kurnool and North Arcot districts. • We assume the commonly accepted exam fact that the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats is located in Andhra Pradesh. • Peaks such as Arma Konda or associated high points are taken into account.

Concept / Approach:
Modern surveys identify peaks in the Eastern Ghats located in the hilly tracts of Andhra Pradesh as some of the highest points, particularly in the Eastern Ghats ranges of Visakhapatnam district. Traditional exam questions treat the highest point of the Eastern Ghats as lying in the hilly interior of that district, around Araku and nearby ranges. Ganjam district in Odisha, Kurnool in interior Andhra Pradesh and North Arcot in Tamil Nadu do have hills, but they are not usually cited as hosting the highest Eastern Ghats peak in standard MCQs.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Eastern Ghats run through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in broken segments. Step 2: Remember that the most elevated Eastern Ghats areas are often associated with the northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, notably around Visakhapatnam. Step 3: Note that peaks like Arma Konda and nearby highlands are located within or very close to the administrative boundaries of Visakhapatnam district. Step 4: Compare the options. Ganjam in Odisha has Eastern Ghats hills but they do not reach the highest elevations cited for the system. Step 5: Kurnool district lies more towards the interior and is better known for the Nallamala ranges that are not strictly the topmost Eastern Ghats peaks, and North Arcot is in Tamil Nadu with lower elevations. Step 6: Therefore, Visakhapatnam district is the district that corresponds to the highest point of the Eastern Ghats in exam oriented references.

Verification / Alternative check:
Physical geography resources and advanced atlases point to the highest Eastern Ghats elevations in the north eastern part of Andhra Pradesh, especially in the hilly regions of Visakhapatnam district and adjacent areas. Many competitive exam keys match questions on highest Eastern Ghats peak location with Visakhapatnam district as the correct option, which confirms this pairing.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ganjam district in Odisha does contain hills, but they do not generally reach the maximum elevations of the Eastern Ghats as given in comparative height tables. Kurnool district is associated with hills of the Nallamala region and parts of the Deccan plateau but is not identified as hosting the overall highest Eastern Ghats point. North Arcot district in Tamil Nadu has Eastern Ghats segments but at comparatively lower elevations than the high peaks of north eastern Andhra Pradesh.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick any district that they know has hills without checking whether those hills belong to the highest segment of the Eastern Ghats. Others may choose Ganjam because they remember prominent peaks like Mahendragiri in Odisha, not noticing that later survey data and exam patterns emphasise the higher peaks in Visakhapatnam district. Always associate highest Eastern Ghats peak with Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for competitive exam purposes.

Final Answer:
The highest point of the Eastern Ghats is located in Visakhapatnam district.