Adam's Bridge

Adam's Bridge
an island chain in the Gulf of Mannar between NW Sri Lanka and SE India; ownership divided between Sri Lanka and India. 30 mi. (48 km) long.

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▪ shoals, India
also called  Rama's Bridge,  

      chain of shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rāmeswaram, off the southeastern coast of India. The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry, and nowhere are the shoals deeper than 4 feet (1 m); thus, they seriously hinder navigation. Dredging operations, now abandoned, were begun as early as 1838 but never succeeded in maintaining a channel for any vessels except those of light draft. Geologic evidence suggests that Adam's Bridge represents a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. Traditionally, it is said to be the remnant of a huge causeway constructed by Rāma (Rama), the hero of the Hindu epic Rāmāyaṇa, to facilitate the passage of his army from India to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) for the rescue of his abducted wife, Sītā. According to Muslim legend, Adam crossed there to Adam's Peak, Ceylon, atop which he stood repentant on one foot for 1,000 years.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Adam's Bridge — (Tamil: ta. ஆதாம் பாலம் transl|ta|āthām pālam ), also known as Rama s Bridge or Ram Setu (Tamil: ta. இராமர் பாலம் transl|ta|irāmar pālam , Sanskrit: sa. रामसेतु IAST|rāmasetu ) [also spelled Rama Setu , Ram Sethu , Ramasethu and variants.] , is a …   Wikipedia

  • Adam's Bridge — n. Rama s Bridge, chain of sandbanks stretching about 29 km (18 miles) between India and Sri Lanka …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Adam's Bridge — geographical name chain of shoals 30 miles (48 kilometers) long between Sri Lanka & SE India …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ADAM'S BRIDGE —    a chain of coral reefs and sandbanks connecting Ceylon with India …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Adam's Bridge — an island chain in the Gulf of Mannar between NW Sri Lanka and SE India; ownership divided between Sri Lanka and India. 30 mi. (48 km) long …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Adam'sBridge — Adam s Bridge also Ra·ma s Bridge (räʹməz) A chain of shoals extending about 29 km (18 mi) between India and Sri Lanka. According to Hindu legend, the bridge was built to transport Rama, hero of the Ramayana, to the island to rescue his wife from …   Universalium

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