Vadamarachchi Lagoon

Vadamarachchi lagoon
வடமராட்சி கடல்நீரேரி
Location Jaffna District, Sri Lanka
Coordinates 9°42′N 80°18′E / 9.700°N 80.300°E / 9.700; 80.300Coordinates: 9°42′N 80°18′E / 9.700°N 80.300°E / 9.700; 80.300
Type Lagoon
Primary outflows Indian Ocean
Surface area 77.87 square kilometres (30.07 sq mi)
Max. depth 2 metres (6.6 ft)
Surface elevation Sea level

Vadamarachchi lagoon (Tamil: வடமராட்சி கடல்நீரேரி) is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Thondamannar lagoon. The lagoon separates the Vadamarachchi region from the Valikamam and Thenmarachchi regions.

The lagoon is connected to the Indian Ocean by a narrow channel to the north, near the town of Thondamannar. The lagoon's water is brackish to saline. There is a sluice gate at Thondamannar to prevent sea water entering the lagoon.[1]

The lagoon is surrounded by a densely populated region containing palmyra palms, coconut palm, grassland, rice paddies, arid scrubland and open forest.

The lagoon has extensive mudflats, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps, particularly Avicennia. The lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including American flamingoes, ducks, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.

References

  • S.W. Kotagama, Leonard Pinto and Jayampathi L. Samarakoon. "Sri Lanka" (PDF). Wetlands International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  1. ↑ "Thondamannar sluice gate to be reconstructed". TamilNet. 3 January 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
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