Loktak Lake (Largest Freshwater Lake), Manipur, India

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil and organic matter at various stages of decomposition) floating over it. The lake is located at Moirang in Manipur state, India. The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream" and tak = "the end". The largest of all the phumdis covers an area of 40 km2 (15 sq mi) and is situated on the southeastern shore of the lake. Located on this phumdi, Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating national park in the world. The park is the last natural refuge of the endangered Sangai, Rucervus eldii eldii or Manipur brown-antlered deer, one of three subspecies of Eld's deer.

Loktak Day is observed every year on the 15th of October at the periphery of the Loktak lake. This ancient lake plays an important role in the economy of Manipur. It serves as a source of water for hydro power generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. The lake is also a source of livelihood for the rural fishermen who live in the surrounding areas and on phumdis, also known as "phumshongs". Human activity has led to severe pressure on the lake ecosystem. 55 rural and urban hamlets around the lake have a population of about 100,000 people. Considering the ecological status and its biodiversity values, the lake was initially designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on 23 March 1990. It was also listed under the Montreux Record on 16 June 1993, "a record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur".

 

 

Of the two river systems which drain the Manipur state the Barak River and the Manipur Rive the Manipur River flows through the Manipur Valley. The river rises in the north at Karong, flows south of Imphal and hence is also known as the Imphal River. Along its course through the valley downstream of Imphal, the bed slope of the river is gentle. The Drainage pattern is sub-dendritic, sub-parallel and sub-radial, dictated by the structure and lithology of the area. Imphal, Iril and Thoubal River valleys also exhibit a meandering river course. At the Ithai barrage outlet of the Lake, the direct catchment area draining into the lake is 980 km2 (380 sq mi) out of which 430 km2 (170 sq mi) is under paddy cultivation, 150 km2 (58 sq mi) under habitation and 400 km2 (150 sq mi) under forest cover. The area of the lake is 236.21 km2 (91.20 sq mi), comprising large pockets of open water and marshy land formed at the southern part of the Imphal valley up to the confluence of Manipur River and Khuga River in the district of Imphal West. The Lake is divided into two zones, namely, the "Core Zone" which is the no-development zone or totally protected zone comprising 70.3 km2 (27.1 sq mi) and the balance area is called the "Buffer Zone". Within the lake and on its periphery, there are 14 hills of varying size and elevation; in the southern part of the lake are the Sendra, Ithing and Thanga islands.

 

With an average annual rainfall of 1,183 mm (46.57 in) tropical monsoon climate prevails in the valley. Temperatures range from 0 to 35 °C (32 to 95 °F). February and March are the driest months.

57 species of waterbirds and another 14 species of wetland associated birds have been noted in the lake including 28 species of migratory waterfowl (most migrating from different parts of the northern hemisphere beyond the Himalayas). Also recorded were 425 species of animals 249 vertebrates and 176 invertebrates). The list includes rare animals such as the Indian python, sambhar and barking deer. Keibul Lamjao National Park is the natural habitat of one of the most endangered deer, the brow-antlered deer which was once thought to be extinct, which was declared a national park only to preserve and conserve this species of Eld's deer. 

 

The area is inhabited by locals, who have to build their houses or shelters on the floating island. When the sun sets, the rays falling on the lake make it look picture-perfect, adding to its natural magnificence. The fishermen of the area use boats with oars when they set out to fish, which disturbs the monotony and the silence of the place. They set out early to place fish traps. Canoes, which have been popular for centuries, are used by them to set the stated fish traps. The main occupation of the people residing in the area is fishing, and therefore, the lake serves as a lifeline. Some people depend on the Loktak lake for irrigation, hydel power generation and most importantly, for the supply of fresh water for drinking. There are several huts, built out of rocks, bamboo, rods and metal plates, which act as houses for the fishermen. Another point to keep in mind that India’s first floating school is found in the region.   

Well connected by road and air, Imphal, the capital city of Manipur is 39 km (24 mi) away from the lake, by road. The lake is a unique destination for tourism. The lake offers excellent opportunities for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the lake and its several islands located inside it that are studded with floating phumdis of different geometrical shapes. The important islands which offer facilities for visitors are the Sandra and Phubala. The Sendra Tourit Home on the island with an attached Cafeteria in the middle of the lake is an ideal tourist spot. Visitors get a bird's eye view of life on the lake small islands that are actually floating weed on which the lake people live. Phubala resort, on the Phubala, is 40 km (25 mi) from Imphal. At Moirang town on the fringe of the Loktak is the Indian National Army (INA) Museum which will be of interest to tourists. The exhibits include letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other articles associated with the INA. A bronze statue of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in uniform stands in the lawn. 

 

For more information  - Loktak Lake

Exploring the Cetina River: Croatia’s Hidden Gem

The Cetina River, one of Croatia’s most breathtaking natural wonders, flows through the heart of Dalmatia, offering visitors a mesmerizing blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty. Stretching approximately 101 kilometers (63 miles) from its source in the Dinara Mountains to the Adriatic Sea near Omiš, the Cetina River is an ideal destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and history enthusiasts alike. Its basin covers an area of 1,463 km2 (565 sq mi). From its source, Cetina descends from an elevation of 385 metres (1,263 ft) above sea level to the Adriatic Sea. It is the most water-rich river in Dalmatia.

The Source of the Cetina River:

The Cetina River originates from a stunning karst spring near the small village of Cetina, close to the town of Vrlika. This source, known as the Izvor Cetine, is a crystal-clear, deep, and almost perfectly round pool, often called the “Eye of the Earth” due to its striking blue and turquoise colors. The spring plunges to an unknown depth, with divers having explored up to 115 meters (377 feet) so far.

The latter portion of Cetina and its relatively large drop in elevation was used to build several substantial hydroelectric power plants. Its water is also bottled as Cetina. The total drainage area of the catchment is around 12,000 km2, and the annual discharge is around 105 m2s−1 as a consequence of a mean annual rainfall of 1380 mm.

The Course of the River:

From its source, the Cetina meanders through picturesque landscapes, deep gorges, and lush greenery, passing through towns like Sinj and Trilj before reaching the Adriatic Sea. One of its most notable features is the Cetina Gorge, a spectacular canyon near Omiš that provides a dramatic setting for various outdoor activities.

Activities Along the Cetina River:

1. Rafting and Kayaking

The Cetina River is famous for its white-water rafting, especially in the section between Slime and Omiš. The rapids, ranging from Class II to Class III, make it an exhilarating yet beginner-friendly adventure. Kayaking and canoeing are also popular ways to explore the river’s serene and untouched beauty.

2. Zip-lining Over the Canyon

For adrenaline junkies, the Cetina zip-line near Omiš offers an unforgettable experience. Suspended high above the river, participants glide over the canyon on steel cables, enjoying panoramic views of the rugged cliffs and turquoise waters below.

3. Hiking and Nature Walks

The river’s surroundings are a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Trails wind through dense forests, passing waterfalls and offering breathtaking viewpoints, making it a perfect destination for eco-tourism.

4. Exploring Caves and Waterfalls

The river is dotted with fascinating caves and waterfalls, such as the Gubavica Waterfalls near Zadvarje. These twin falls, Velika Gubavica (49 meters/161 feet) and Mala Gubavica (7 meters/23 feet), provide a refreshing escape and are accessible via scenic hiking paths.

Historical and Cultural Significance:

1. The Town of Sinj

Sinj, located along the Cetina River, is famous for its Alka Tournament, a historic knights' competition dating back to 1715, celebrating a local victory against the Ottoman Empire.

2. The Pirate History of Omiš

The town of Omiš, where the Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea, was once home to the infamous Omiš Pirates. During the Middle Ages, they controlled maritime trade routes, using the river’s canyon as a strategic hideout.

3. Ancient Roman Remnants

The region around the Cetina River is rich in historical sites, including Roman bridges and fortresses, remnants of an era when the river served as an important transport and trade route.

Wildlife and Ecosystem:

The Cetina River supports a diverse ecosystem, home to various fish species, otters, birds, and lush vegetation. The river’s clear waters and surrounding habitats make it a crucial refuge for biodiversity in the region.

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit the Cetina River depends on the activities you wish to pursue:

• Spring and Summer (May–September): Ideal for rafting, zip-lining, and hiking, with warm temperatures and lush landscapes.

• Autumn (October–November): A quieter time with stunning fall colors.

• Winter (December–February): While activities like rafting slow down, the river and its surroundings take on a serene, almost mystical beauty.

Final Thoughts:

Whether you’re seeking adventure, history, or simply a peaceful retreat in nature, the Cetina River has something to offer everyone. From thrilling water sports to breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, this Croatian gem remains an unmissable destination. Next time you visit Croatia, make sure to explore the wonders of the Cetina River.

Corinth Canal waterway, Greece

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometers (4 mi) in length and only 21.4 meters (70 ft) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. Nowadays it has little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction. The canal was initially proposed in classical times and a failed effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD. Construction started in 1881 but was hampered by geological and financial problems that bankrupted the original builders. It was completed in 1893 but, due to the canal's narrowness, navigational problems and periodic closures to repair landslides from its steep walls, it failed to attract the level of traffic expected by its operators. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Corinth Canal is named after the Greek city of Corinth, which is the nearest city to the isthmus. The Canal has steep limestone walls that soar about 300 feet from the water level to the top of the Canal but is only 70 feet wide at sea level. Ships must be narrower than 58 feet wide to transit the Canal. This small size was appropriate when the Canal was built in the late 19th century, but it is way too small for today’s cargo and passenger ships. In today’s world of mega-ships, the Corinth Canal is primarily used by small cruise ships and tour boats.

The idea of a canal was revived after Greece gained formal independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. The Greek statesman Ioannis Kapodistrias asked a French engineer to assess the feasibility of the project but had to abandon it when its cost was assessed at 40 million gold francs—far too expensive for the newly independent country. Fresh impetus was given by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the following year, the government of Prime Minister Thrasyvoulos Zaimis passed a law authorizing the construction of a Corinth Canal. French entrepreneurs were put in charge but, following the bankruptcy of the French company that had attempted to dig the Panama Canal, French banks refused to lend money and the company went bankrupt as well. A fresh concession was granted to the Société Internationale du Canal Maritime de Corinthe in 1881, which was commissioned to construct the canal and operate it for the next 99 years. Construction was formally inaugurated on 23 April 1882 in the presence of King George I of Greece.

The company's initial capital was 30,000,000 francs (US$6.0 million in the money of the day), but after eight years of work it ran out of money and a bid to issue 60,000 bonds of 500 francs each flopped when less than half of the bonds were sold. The company's head, István Türr, went bankrupt, as did the company itself and a bank that had agreed to raise additional funds for the project. Construction resumed in 1890 when the project was transferred to a Greek company, and was completed on 25 July 1893 after eleven years' work.

The canal experienced financial and operational difficulties after completion. The narrowness of the canal makes navigation difficult. Its high walls channel wind along its length, and the different times of the tides in the two gulfs cause strong tidal currents in the channel. For these reasons, many ship operators were unwilling to use the canal, and traffic was far below predictions. Annual traffic of just under 4 million net tons had been anticipated, but by 1906 traffic had reached only half a million net tons annually. By 1913 the total had risen to 1.5 million net tons, but the disruption caused by World War I resulted in a major decline in traffic.The Corinth Canal seen from the air, showing the steep limestone walls which proved vulnerable to landslides. Another persistent problem was the heavily faulted nature of the sedimentary rock, in an active seismic zone, through which the canal is cut. The canal's high limestone walls have been persistently unstable from the start. Although it was formally opened in July 1893 it was not opened to navigation until the following November, due to landslides. It was soon found that the wake from ships passing through the canal undermined the walls, causing further landslides. This required further expense in building retaining walls along the water's edge for more than half of the length of the canal, using 165,000 cubic meters of masonry. Between 1893 and 1940, it was closed for a total of four years for maintenance to stabilize the walls. In 1923 alone, 41,000 cubic metres of material fell into the canal, which took two years to clear out.

Serious damage was caused to the canal during World War II. On 26 April 1941, during the Battle of Greece between defending British troops and the invading forces of Nazi Germany, German parachutists and glider troops attempted to capture the main bridge over the canal. The bridge was defended by the British and had been wired for demolition. The Germans surprised the defenders with a glider-borne assault in the early morning of 26 April and captured the bridge, but the British set off the charges and destroyed the structure. Other authors maintain that German pioneers cut the detonation wires, and a lucky hit by British artillery triggered the explosion. The bridge was replaced by a combined rail/road bridge built in 25 days by the IV Railway Engineer Battalion, of the Royal Italian Army's Railway Engineer Regiment. Three years later, as German forces retreated from Greece, the canal was put out of action by German "scorched earth" operations. German forces used explosives to trigger landslides to block the canal, destroyed the bridges and dumped locomotives, bridge wreckage and other infrastructure into the canal to hinder repairs. The United States Army Corps of Engineers began to clear the canal in November 1947 and reopened it for shallow-draft traffic by 7 July 1948, and for all traffic by that September.

The canal consists of a single channel 8 metres (26 ft) deep, excavated at sea level (thus requiring no locks), measuring 6,343 metres (20,810 ft) long by 24.6 metres (81 ft) wide at sea level and 21.3 metres (70 ft) wide at the bottom. The rock walls, which rise 90 metres (300 ft) above sea level, are at a near-vertical 80° angle. The canal is crossed by a railway line, a road and a motorway at a height of about 45 metres (148 ft). In 1988 submersible bridges were installed at sea level at each end of the canal, by the eastern harbour of Isthmia and the western harbour of Poseidonia. Although the canal saves the 700-kilometre (430 mi) journey around the Peloponnese, it is too narrow for modern ocean freighters, as it can accommodate ships only of a width up to 17.6 meters (58 ft) and draft up to 7.3 metres (24 ft). In October 2019, With over 900 passengers on board, a 22.5 meters (74 ft) wide and 195 metres (640 ft) long Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines cruise ship successfully traversed the canal to set a new record for longest ship to pass through the canal. Ships can pass through the canal only one convoy at a time on a one-way system. Larger ships have to be towed by tugs. The canal is currently used mainly by tourist ships; around 11,000 ships per year travel through the waterway.

 

For more information - Corinth Canal

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore

Singapore Changi Airport commonly known as Changi Airport (IATA: SIN, ICAO: WSSS), is a major civilian airport that serves Singapore, and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. It is currently rated the World's Best Airport by Skytrax for the seventh consecutive year since 2013. It is also the first Airport in the world to do so for seven consecutive years and is one of the world's busiest airports by international passenger and cargo traffic. The airport is located in Changi, at the eastern end of Singapore, approximately 20 km (12 mi) from Marina Bay (Singapore's Downtown Core), on a 13-square-kilometre (5.0 sq mi) site. The airport is operated by Changi Airport Group and it is the home base of Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Cargo, SilkAir, Scoot, Jetstar Asia Airways and BOC Aviation.In 2019, Changi served 68.3 million passengers, making it the 16th busiest airport in the world. 

Changi Airport serves more than 100 airlines flying to 380 cities in around 100 countries and territories worldwide, as of 31 December 2019. About 7,400 flights arrive or depart at Changi each week about one every 80 seconds. For the 2019 full-year figures published by the airport, the airport handled 68,300,000 passengers, the most in its 38-year history. This made it the seventh busiest airport by international passenger traffic in the world and the third busiest in Asia. In December 2019, Changi Airport registered a total of 6.41 million passenger movements, the highest the airport has ever achieved in a month since it opened in 1981. Its daily traffic movement record was also broken on 20 December 2019, with 226,692 passengers passing through during that day. In addition to being an important passenger hub, the airport is also one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, handling 2.01 million tonnes of cargo in 2019. The total number of commercial aircraft movements decrease by 1.0% from the previous year to 382,000 in 2019. The airport has won over 620 awards since its opening, including 28 "Best Airport" awards in 2019 alone. Changi Airport's efforts to mitigate the effects of ageing infrastructure include continual physical upgrades to its existing terminals and building new facilities to maintain its high standards in airport service quality.

 

Changi Airport has five main passenger terminals arranged in an elongated inverted 'U' shape with Jewel in the centre of the ‘U’ shape. Currently, the airport has a designed total annual handling capacity of 85 million passengers. 

Terminal 1, opened on 1 July 1981, is located at the northern end. This terminal was renovated in 2019.
Terminal 2, opened on 22 November 1990, is located at the eastern end.
Terminal 3, opened on 9 January 2008, is located at the western end.
Terminal 4, opened on 31 October 2017, is located on the southern side, at the site of the former budget terminal.

There is also a privately run luxury terminal called the JetQuay CIP Terminal. It is similar to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport, but is open to all passengers travelling in all classes on all airlines with an access fee. The short-lived Budget Terminal was opened on 26 March 2006 and closed on 25 September 2012 to make way for a larger Terminal 4.

Jewel Changi Airport, opened on 17 April 2019, is a multi-use structure, mainly a shopping mall, interconnecting Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Part of this project will help expand Terminal 1 to handle 24 million passengers per year. Terminal 5 is set to be ready in the mid 2030s. It is expected to handle 50 million passenger movements per annum. The airport terminal structure is projected to be larger than terminals 1, 2 and 3 combined. It will be built on reclaimed land to the east of the present terminals. It will be funded through the newly increased levy. KPF Singapore with Heatherwick Studio, Architects 61, and DP Architects will provide architectural services. Arup Singapore, Mott MacDonald Singapore and Surbana Jurong Consultants will provide engineering services.

For more Information - Singapore Changi Airport

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, California

Glass Beach is a beach adjacent to MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg, California, that is abundant in sea glass created from years of dumping garbage into an area of coastline near the northern part of the town. In 1906, Fort Bragg residents established an official water dump site behind the Union Lumber Company onto what is now known as "Site 1". Most water-fronted communities had water dump sites discarding glass, appliances, and even vehicles. Locals referred to it as "The Dumps." Fires were often lit using Molotov Cocktails to reduce the size of the trash pile. When the original dump site filled up in 1943, the site was moved to what is now known as "Site 2", the active dump site from 1943 until 1949. When this beach became full in 1949, the dump was moved north to what is now known as "Glass Beach", which remained an active dump site until 1967.

The California State Water Resources Control Board and city leaders closed this area in 1967. Various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage. Over the next several decades, what was biodegradable in the dump sites simply degraded and all the metal and other items were eventually removed and sold as scrap or used in art. The pounding waves broke down the glass and pottery and tumbled those pieces into the small, smooth, colored pieces that often become jewelry-quality, which cover Glass Beach and the other two glass beaches (former dump sites) in Fort Bragg.

There are three Glass Beach sites in Fort Bragg where trash was dumped into the ocean between 1906 and 1967. Site Two (1943-1949) and Three (1949–1967 - "Glass Beach") are located at the end of the path that begins on the corner of Elm Street and Glass Beach Drive. These sites are accessible by foot and by a short climb down the cliffs surrounding the beach. Site One (1906–43) is 1/4 mile south of Site Two and has become accessible by foot as of January 2015 when the northern section of the new Coastal Trail in Fort Bragg opened. In 1998, the private owner of the property began a five-year process of working with the California Coastal Conservancy and the California Integrated Waste Management Board for the cleanup and sale of the property to the state. Following completion of the clean up, the California Department of Parks and Recreation purchased the 38-acre (15 ha) property adjacent to Glass Beach, and it was incorporated into MacKerricher State Park in October 2002. All of the actual "Glass Beach", Site 3, is "adjacent" to MacKerricher State Park. All entities in California end at the mean high water mark (MHW), according to Article 10 of the state constitution. In Fort Bragg, the mean high water mark is 5.2', and all of Glass Beach, Site 3, is below that water mark.Sites 1 & 2 are located south of "Glass Beach" and do not abut the state park area, though they abut the new city park area, which also ends at the mean high water mark (MHW). 

 

The beach is now visited by tens of thousands of tourists yearly. Collecting is discouraged by State Park Rangers on the section of "Glass Beach" adjacent to the state park, where they ask people to leave what little glass is left for others to enjoy, although most of the sea glass is now found on the other two glass beaches outside the state park area.

About 1,000 to 1,200 tourists visit Fort Bragg's glass beaches each day in the summer. Most collect some glass. Because of this and also because of natural factors (wave action is constantly grinding down the glass), the glass is slowly diminishing. There is currently a movement by Captain J.H. (Cass) Forrington to replenish the beaches with discarded glass. Captain Forrington, founder, owner and curator of the local Sea Glass Museum, is a strong advocate for a full time research facility studying the benefits to the marine environment of the minerals used to make and clarify the glass, with a supporting aquarium that highlights the rich diversity of life found in Fort Bragg's waters, with the ultimate goal of promoting the formation of glass reefs to initiate new food chains worldwide on all the badly depleted continental shelves. Fort Bragg currently trucks its glass over the Sierra Nevada mountains to a landfill in Sparks, NV, even though 90% of the 7 foot depth of glass that used to cover Glass Beach, Site 3, was locally recycled, being used in things like the pathways to the Guest House Museum and Skunk Train, and in art like the beautiful back-lit mosaic created by high school students that adorns one of the local temples. On December 10, 2012, the City Council of the City of Fort Bragg discussed the beach glass depletion and declined to move forward with replenishment efforts due to the cost and perceived likelihood that required permits would not be approved. Similar beaches are found in Benicia, California and Eleele, Hawaii.

Dhanushkodi ( The last land of India ), Tamil Nadu,India.

Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is south-east of Pamban and is about 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. The town was destroyed during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and remains uninhabited in the aftermath.

Dhanushkodi is on the tip of Pamban island, separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait. It shares the only land border between India and Sri Lanka, which is one of the smallest in the world at 45 metres (148 ft) in length on a shoal in the Palk Strait. 

 

 

The National Highway completed the 9.5-km-long road 5 km from Mukuntharayar Chathiram to Dhanushkodi and 4.5 km from Dhanushkodi to Arichamunai. Tourists can visit by their own vehicle and end up with Pillars of Ashoka. Until 2016, Dhanushkodi was reachable either on foot along the seashore or in jeeps. In 2016, a road was completed from the village of Mukundarayar Chathiram.

A meter gauge railway line connected Mandapam on mainland India to Dhanushkodi.Boat mail express ran from Chennai Egmore to Dhanushkodi till 1964 when the metre-gauge branch line from Pamban to Dhanushkodi was destroyed during the 1964 Dhanushkodi cyclone. In 2003, Southern Railway sent a project report to Ministry of Railways for re-laying a 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) railway line to Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram. The planning commission looked into the possibility of a new railway line between Dhanushkodi and Rameswaram in 2010.

The area around Ramehswaram is prone to high-intensity geomorphic activity. A scientific study conducted by the Geological Survey of India indicated that the southern part of Dhanushkodi facing the Gulf of Mannar sank by almost 5 meters (16 ft) in 1948 and 1949, due to vertical tectonic movement of land parallel to the coastline. As a result of this, a patch of land of about 0.5 kilometers (0.31 mi) in width, stretching 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) from north to south, submerged in the sea.

On 17 December 1964, a depression formed at 5°N 93°E in the South Andaman Sea. On 19 December, it intensified into a cyclonic storm. After 21 December 1964, it moved westwards, almost in a straight line, at the rate of 400 to 550 kilometers (250 to 340 mi) per day. On 22 December, it crossed Vavunia in Sri Lanka and made landfall at Dhanushkodi on the night of 22–23 December 1964. Estimated wind velocity was 280 kilometers per hour (170 mph) and tidal waves were 7 meters (23 ft) high.

An estimated 1,800 people died in the cyclonic storm on 22 December including 115 passengers on board the Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger train. The entire town was marooned and the Government of Madras declared Dhanushkodi as a ghost town, unfit for living. In December 2004, around the 40th anniversary of the deadly cyclone, the sea around Dhanushkodi receded about 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the coastline, exposing the submerged part of the town for a while followed by massive tsunami waves that struck the coast.

 

Dhanushkodi is connected by roadways and railways. One can take the 9 km long National Highway which connects to the city. Local transport is also available from different cities nearby. Tourists visit this city in their personal vehicles or in jeeps. Dhanushkodi is about 13 km from the main city Rameswaram.