Geography
The 560 km2 (220 sq mi) park is part of the 140 km long and 25 km wide Mannar barrier reef. It lies between 8° 47’ to 9° 15’ N latitude and 78° 12’ to 79° 14’ E longitude. The 21 islands vary from 0.25 ha (.6 acre) to 130 ha. (321.2 acres). Total area of the islands is 6.23 km2 (2.41 sq mi) Map p.2
The islands (listed southwest to northeast) include four in the Tuticorin group:
Vaan, 16.00 ha 8°50′11″N 78°12′38″E / 8.83639°N 78.21047°E / 8.83639; 78.21047
Koswari, 19.50 ha 8°52′08″N 78°13′30″E / 8.86879°N 78.22506°E / 8.86879; 78.22506
Vilanguchalli, 0.95 ha 8°56′17″N 78°16′11″E / 8.93815°N 78.26969°E / 8.93815; 78.26969, now 1 m below mean low tide level as a result of excessive coral mining.
Kariyachalli, 16.46 ha 8°57′15″N 78°15′08″E / 8.95409°N 78.25235°E / 8.95409; 78.25235;
three in the Vembar group:
Uppu Thanni, 22.94 ha, elevation 4 m 9°05′21″N 78°29′29″E / 9.08921°N 78.49148°E / 9.08921; 78.49148
Puluvini Challi, 6.12 ha, elevation 5.5 m 9°06′12″N 78°32′13″E / 9.10320°N 78.53688°E / 9.10320; 78.53688
Nalla Thanni, 101.00 ha, elevation 11.9 m (recently populated) 9°06′24″N 78°34′44″E / 9.10667°N 78.57885°E / 9.10667; 78.57885;
seven in the Kilakarai group:
Anaipar, 11.00 ha, elevation 2.1 m 9°09′11″N 78°41′41″E / 9.15294°N 78.69481°E / 9.15294; 78.69481
Vali Munai, 6.72 ha, elevation 1.2 m 9°09′13″N 78°43′50″E / 9.15354°N 78.73052°E / 9.15354; 78.73052
Poovarasan Patti, 0.50 ha, elevation 1.2 m 9°09′15″N 78°46′01″E / 9.15413°N 78.76695°E / 9.15413; 78.76695
Appa, 28.63 ha, elevation 6.4 m 9°09′57″N 78°49′33″E / 9.16582°N 78.82596°E / 9.16582; 78.82596
Talairi, 75.15 ha, elevation 2.7 m 9°10′53″N 78°54′24″E / 9.18133°N 78.90673°E / 9.18133; 78.90673
Valai 10.10 ha, elevation 3.0 m 9°11′03″N 78°56′19″E / 9.18421°N 78.93866°E / 9.18421; 78.93866
Mulli, 10.20 ha, elevation 1.2 m 9°11′11″N 78°58′05″E / 9.18641°N 78.96810°E / 9.18641; 78.96810;
and seven in the Mandapam group:
Musal, 124.00 ha, elevation 0.9 m 9°11′57″N 79°04′31″E / 9.19912°N 79.07530°E / 9.19912; 79.07530 (recently populated)
Manoli, 25.90 ha 9°12′56″N 79°07′42″E / 9.21564°N 79.12834°E / 9.21564; 79.12834
Manoli-Putti 2.34 ha 9°12′57″N 79°07′41″E / 9.21581°N 79.12800°E / 9.21581; 79.12800
Poomarichan 16.58 ha 9°14′43″N 79°10′48″E / 9.24538°N 79.17993°E / 9.24538; 79.17993
Pullivasal, 29.95 ha 9°14′13″N 79°11′28″E / 9.23699°N 79.19100°E / 9.23699; 79.19100
Kurusadai, 65.80 ha 9°14′49″N 79°12′34″E / 9.24690°N 79.20945°E / 9.24690; 79.20945 was recently populated. Its surrounding shallow waters harbour three species of seagrass that are found nowhere else in India. Representatives of every animal phylum known (except amphibians) are found on this island.
Shingle, 12.69 ha, elevation .6m 9°14′30″N 79°14′08″E / 9.24174°N 79.23563°E / 9.24174; 79.23563.
Tidal amplitude in the area is about .5m.
There were two more islands named Pandayan and Punnaiyadi at 8°46′51″N 78°11′43″E / 8.78075°N 78.19536°E / 8.78075; 78.19536 that were destroyed for construction of the new Tuticorn Port facilities.
Read more about this topic: Gulf Of Mannar Marine National Park
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