Adam's Bridge Marine National Park

Adam's Bridge Marine National Park
இராமர் பாலம் கடல்சார் தேசிய பூங்கா
IUCN category II (national park)
Adam's Bridge Marine National Park Location within Northern Province
Location	Northern Province
Nearest city	Mannar
Coordinates	09°04′15″N 79°37′42″E / 9.07083°N 79.62833°ECoordinates: 09°04′15″N 79°37′42″E / 9.07083°N 79.62833°E
Area	190 km^2 (73 sq mi)
Established	22 June 2015
Administrator	Department of Wildlife Conservation

Adam's Bridge Marine National Park (Tamil: இராமர் பாலம் கடல்சார் தேசிய பூங்கா Irāmar Pālam Kaṭalcār Tēciya Pūṅkā) is a national park surrounding Adam's Bridge (Rama's Bridge) in northern Sri Lanka, approximately 30 km (19 mi) north west of Mannar.

History

Adam's Bridge with Mannar Island in the foreground.

An Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment of Northern Province produced by the government with the assistance of United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme and published in October 2014 recommended that a national park with an area of 18,990 ha (46,925 acres) be created on the Sri Lankan section of Adam's Bridge.^[1][2] In May 2015 the government announced that a part of Adam's Bridge, along with Chundikkulam, Delft and Madhu Road would be designated national parks.^[3] Adam's Bridge became a national park on 22 June 2015 with an area of 18,990 ha (46,925 acres).^[4][5] The Indian section of Adam's Bridge is part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.^[2]

Flora and fauna

Many migratory birds follow the Pamban Island-Adam's Bridge-Mannar Island route when flying to/from Sri Lanka.^[3] The sand dunes of Adam's Bridge are also used as breeding grounds by birds such as the brown noddy.^[3] Numerous varieties of fish and sea grasses thrive in the shallow waters Adam's Bridge.^[2] Sea life found around Adam's Bridge include dolphin, dugong and turtle.^[2]

References

1. Mallawatantri, Ananda; Marambe, Buddhi; Skehan, Connor, eds. (October 2014). Integrated Strategic Environment Assessment of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (PDF). Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka and Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka. p. 75. ISBN 978-955-9012-55-9.
2. Abhayagunawardena, Vidya (29 March 2015). "Will conservation boom in the north?". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
3. Rodrigo, Malaka (10 May 2015). "Wild north gets Govt's helping hand at last". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
4. "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications THE FAUNA AND FLORA PROTECTION ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 469) Order under Subsection (4) of Section 2" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1920/03. 22 June 2015.
5. "National Parks". Department of Wildlife Conservation.