Monday, October 6, 2014

Mannar Marine National Park

Mannar Marine National Park
"biologist's paradise"
GULF OF MANNAR MARINE NATIONAL PARK



The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve that covers an area of 4,054 square miles (10,500 sq km) on the south-east coast of India in the Gulf of Mannar.in Tamil nadu It nurtures over 3,600 species of flora and fauna. Biological researchers have identified more than a hundred hard coral species. Dolphins, sharks, sea turtles and oysters abound in the gulf.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a protected area consisting of 21 small islands in the Indian Ocean. There are some coral reefs adjacent, that belongs to this Park. These islands and coral reefs are in the Gulf of Mannar about 10 kms.  away from the east coast of Tamil Nadu. The area consists of area between Tuticorin and Dhanushkodi. The extent of this area is about 160 kms. and consists of the core area which is the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and the first ever Marine Biosphere in South East Asia. The Biosphere is separated from south eastern part of India by Palk Straits, also known as Rama’s Bridge.
The 21 islands within the park are of various sizes and in all, accounts for 6.23 sq. kms. The islands are formed in to 4 groups and the sizes as per the groups are:

The Tuticorin group consists of Vaan (16.00 hectares), Koswari (19.5 hectares), Vianguchalli (0.95 hectares) and Kariyachalli (16.46 hectares).

The Vembar group has Uppu Thanni (22.94 hectares), PuluviniChalli (6.12 hectares) and Nalla Thanni (101 hectares). This island has become populated of late.

The Kilakarai group has seven islands and they are Anaipar (11.00 hectares), Vali Munai (6.72 hectares), Poovarasan Patti (0.50 hectares), Appa (28.63 hectares), Talairi (75.15 hectares), Valai (10.10 hectares) and Mulli (10.20 hectares) and

The Mandapam group includes  Musal (124.00 hectares), Manoli (25.90 hectares), Manoli Putti (2.34 hectares), Poomarichan (16.58  hectares), Pullivasal (29.95 hectares),

Kurusadai (65.80 hectares) where it has been recently populated and Shingle (12.69 hectares)
Kurusadai Island :  This Island lies to the west of the   Pamban Bridge  between the mainland and the island.  It is a Marine Biosphere, a paradise for the Marine Biologists and nature lovers.   Marine wealth are abound here which attract many a scholars and researchers to this Island .The Marine Ecotoxicology Field Research Facility at Pudumadam Kurusadai Islands is the haven of rare and near extinct species of marine sphere.














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