The Puttalam Lagoon is a large 327 km2 (126 sq mi) lagoon in the Puttalam District, western Sri Lanka.

Puttalam Lagoon
Aerial view of the northern-half of the lagoon.
Puttalam Lagoon is located in Sri Lanka
Puttalam Lagoon
Puttalam Lagoon
LocationPuttalam
Coordinates08°06′N 79°46′E / 8.100°N 79.767°E / 8.100; 79.767 (Puttalam Lagoon)
Primary inflowsKala Oya
Mi Oya
Basin countriesSri Lanka
Max. length28 km (17 mi)
Max. width12 km (7 mi)
Surface area327 km2 (126 sq mi)
Average depth1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft)
Max. depth5 m (16.4 ft)
Surface elevationSea level
References[1][2]

The lagoon is fed by two rivers, namely the Kala Oya and Mi Oya, discharging at 2.2 m3/s (77.7 cu ft/s) and 8.1 m3/s (286.0 cu ft/s) respectively. It is linked to Mundal Lagoon 15 km (9.3 mi) to the south by a channel. The lagoon's water is brackish to saline.

The lagoon is surrounded by a region containing coconuts, open forests, grasslands and shrublands. The land is used for prawn fishing, salt production, and rice cultivation.[3] The lagoon has extensive mangroves, seagrasses and some salt marshes, attracting a wide variety of anatidae.

Islands

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A moderate number islands scatter over the lagoon including:

List of islands in the lagoon from north to south
Island Area Location
Ippantivu   08°19′45″N 79°48′16″E / 8.32917°N 79.80444°E / 8.32917; 79.80444 (Ippantivu)
Periya Arichchal   08°18′03″N 79°47′50″E / 8.30083°N 79.79722°E / 8.30083; 79.79722 (Periya Arichchal)
Salliyampiddi   08°17′03″N 79°47′33″E / 8.28417°N 79.79250°E / 8.28417; 79.79250 (Salliyampiddi)
Oddakarentivu   08°16′35″N 79°45′50″E / 8.27639°N 79.76389°E / 8.27639; 79.76389 (Oddakarentivu)
Sinna Erumativu   08°16′28″N 79°46′21″E / 8.27444°N 79.77250°E / 8.27444; 79.77250 (Sinna Erumativu)
Erumativu   08°16′04″N 79°46′45″E / 8.26778°N 79.77917°E / 8.26778; 79.77917 (Erumativu)
Pambativu   08°14′42″N 79°46′33″E / 8.24500°N 79.77583°E / 8.24500; 79.77583 (Pambativu)
Kilitivu   08°14′27″N 79°46′52″E / 8.24083°N 79.78111°E / 8.24083; 79.78111 (Kilitivu)
Neduntivu   08°14′06″N 79°46′45″E / 8.23500°N 79.77917°E / 8.23500; 79.77917 (Neduntivu)
Mattutivu   08°13′01″N 79°46′59″E / 8.21694°N 79.78306°E / 8.21694; 79.78306 (Mattutivu)
Ambantattivu   08°12′42″N 79°45′58″E / 8.21167°N 79.76611°E / 8.21167; 79.76611 (Ambantattivu)
Pullupiddi   08°11′20″N 79°46′40″E / 8.18889°N 79.77778°E / 8.18889; 79.77778 (Pullupiddi)
Somativu   08°10′45″N 79°45′22″E / 8.17917°N 79.75611°E / 8.17917; 79.75611 (Somativu)
Maripututivu   08°10′33″N 79°44′59″E / 8.17583°N 79.74972°E / 8.17583; 79.74972 (Maripututivu)
Kakativu   08°10′26″N 79°45′22″E / 8.17389°N 79.75611°E / 8.17389; 79.75611 (Kakativu)
Udayirputi   08°09′52″N 79°48′37″E / 8.16444°N 79.81028°E / 8.16444; 79.81028 (Udayirputi)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Management of coastal resources in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22, retrieved 2010-07-02
  2. ^ S.W. Kotagama; Leonard Pinto; Jayampathi L. Samarakoon, Wetlands of Sri Lanka (PDF), Wetlands International, pp. 52, 53, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-18, retrieved 2010-07-02
  3. ^ Haque, A. K. Enamul; Murty, M. N.; Shyamsundar, Priya (2011). Environmental Valuation in South Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 101. ISBN 9781139504782.