Palk Strait

Palk Strait
Palk Strait separating Palk Bay from the Gulf of Mannar
Palk Strait Location within India
Bathymetry of the Palk Strait, with water depth in metres
Location	Bay of Bengal–Laccadive Sea
Coordinates	10°00′N 79°45′E
Type	Strait
Etymology	Robert Palk
Basin countries	India, Sri Lanka
Max. length	137 km (85 mi)
Max. width	137 km (85 mi)
Min. width	64 km (40 mi)
Max. depth	35 m (115 ft)
Settlements	Rameswaram Jaffna

Palk Strait is a strait between the Pamban Island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Mannar Island in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It links the Bay of Bengal to the Laccadive Sea. It is bound by a chain of low lying islands and shoals that are collectively called Ram Setu (Adam's Bridge) on one side and the Gulf of Mannar on the other side. The Palk Bay forms the south-western part of the strait. It stretches for about 137 km (85 mi) and is 64 to 137 km (40 to 85 mi) wide. It is named after Robert Palk, who was a governor of Madras (1755–1763) during the British Raj.

Several rivers including the Vaigai flow into the strait. The shallow waters in the strait and the presence of many small islands and reefs make it difficult for large ships to pass through, although fishing boats and small craft navigate the waters. Dredging the sea to make it deeper for navigation and plans for a bridge over the waters have been proposed.