Coral reefs in India
Coral reefs in India are one of the most ancient and dynamic ecosystems of India. The coral reefs not only provide a sanctuary to a myriad of marine life but also play a key role in protecting the coastline from erosion. India has about 7517 km of coastline including islands but mainland coast is 6100 km.
List
- Situated in the Bay of Bengal, exclusively fringing reefs of about 572 islands, most of these islands have a healthy biodiversity.[1]
- Exclusively consists of fringing reefs. The reefs are relatively less developed due to large range of temperature and high salinity. The harbours have less biodiversity. The entire Gulf of Kutch is also known as a marine national park.[2]
- Fringing reefs with a chain of 21 islands from Rameswaram in the north to Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in the south. This part of the gulf forms part of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve.[3]
- Exclusively coral atolls with 36 islands, of which 10 are inhabited. The islands range from less than 1 km (0.62 mi) to about 9 km (5.6 mi) in length, and do not exceed 2 km (1.2 mi) in width.[4]
- Others
- Tarkarli in Malwan, Maharashtra is a smaller reef. There are some coral reefs around small inlets in the western part of the Gulf of Khambat. Angria Bank is a coral reef off Vijaydurg in Maharashtra. There is a coral reef in Netrani Island in Karnataka. Shell reef in Gulf of Kutch is a shell shaped reef made from bio rock and decorated with coral in the deep waters of Gulf of Kutch, off the coast of Gujarat. It helps Coral Polyps to get healed 20% faster than usual.
Gallery
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Gulf of Kutch on the left; image by NASA Earth Observatory -
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Scene at Lakshadweep Island -
North Sentinel Island is an island in the group of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
See also
References
- ^ Planning Commission of India (2008). Andaman and Nicobar Islands Development Report. State Development Report series (illustrated ed.). Academic Foundation. ISBN 81-7188-652-3. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ Apte, Deepak. "Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutchh: A conservation challenge" (PDF). Bombay Natural History Society: 26–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ UNDP (1994). "Conservation and Sustainable-use of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve's Coastal Biodiversity" (PDF). UNDP, Project Brief, New York. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ "Location, Area and Population". lakshadweep.nic.in. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coral reefs in India.
- Coral Reefs in India – National Biodiversity Authority of India
- Official website – National Institute of Oceanography
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