Palk Strait

The Palk Strait

The Palk Strait is a narrow waterway between Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal to the Laccadive Sea. This area has many small islands and sandbanks called Ram Setu, also known as Adam's Bridge.

The Palk Strait is named after Robert Palk, a governor of Madras during the British Raj. It stretches about 137 kilometers (85 miles) long and ranges from 64 to 137 kilometers (40 to 85 miles) wide. Several rivers, including the Vaigai, flow into the strait.

Because the waters are shallow and there are many small islands and reefs, big ships find it hard to travel here. Small fishing boats can move through these waters easily. Some people have ideas to make the sea deeper for bigger ships or even build a bridge across the strait.

The Pamban Island is connected to the Indian mainland by the Pamban Bridge, which opened many years ago. There are also plans for a special bridge or tunnel called the Palk Strait Bridge to connect India and Sri Lanka.