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6). 
IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring", Hyderabad, India, 2002 
  
Figure 6. Wave-cut platform at south of Mandapam coast 
Along the coast of Gulf of Mannar, sea cliffs have been 
observed in Mandapam, Rameswaram, Pudumatam and Appa 
Island coastal areas. Generally the sea cliff and caves are made 
up of calcareous sandstone and located at the high water level. 
Due to intensive action of waves on cliffs at some places sea 
caves are formed. Such caves have been observed near 
Mandapam coastal area and Southwestern and Southern coastal 
areas of Appa Island (Figure 7). At some places, these features 
have been destroyed due to slumping of upper cliff materials. 
  
Figure 7. Sea cave and cliffs at north of Appa Island 
Water logged land is the area where the water is at or near the 
surface and has been stagnant for most part of the year. Such 
lands usually occupy low-lying areas. In the study area around 
the northern part of Rameswaram Island some waterlogged 
lands have been observed. In the areas like Pillaikulam, 
Surantidal and Mangaud, this type of features have been 
observed. The total water logged land in the study area has been 
calculated as 5.96 km?. 
All along the coast strandlines are so common especially in 
between Tiruppullani to Mandapam, eight series of strandlines 
in curvilinear form have been observed. The general trend of 
the strandline is in the east to west direction. In the south of 
Rameswaram area also, curvilinear strandlines have' been 
observed. 
4.1.2 Fluvio-Marine Landforms 
Deltaic plains are very common landform along the coast of 
Gulf of Mannar, which is predominantly controlled by Fluvio- 
Marine processes. These deltaic plain are considered to be of 
Pleistocene to Recent age (Loveson 1993). The areas around 
the river courses of Vaippar, Gundar, Palar and Kottakkarai 
Rivers, had vast deltas, but at present they are found to be 
inactive. The deltaic plains are marked by flat and vast areas, 
having vegetation cover. Number of tanks have been noticed on 
395 
the deltaic plains. The total area has been estimated to be about 
221.69 km?. 
4.1.3 Fluvial Landforms 
In the coastal zone of Gulf of Mannar various fluvial landform 
features such as floodplains, natural levees and Flood basin 
have been identified. Well-established rivers usually have their 
floors covered with alluvium, in which the normal flow channel 
is covered. The surface of low relief on the alluvium from the 
banks of the low-water channel to the base of the valley walls is 
called the flood plain of a river. Flood plain and their major 
morphologic subdivisions are primarily deposited landforms. 
Floodplains have been very clearly observed along the 
riverbanks of Kallar, Vaippar and Gundar Rivers in study 
region. These flood plains are inactive, which is covered with 
thick vegetation. The total estimated area of flood plain in study 
region is 24.43 km?, 
Land forms in deltaic regions include natural levees bordering 
river channel and backed by lowering of the swamp or flooded 
depression in the lower parts of the river valleys (Bird 
1984).The over bank deposits are located more or less parallel 
to the riverbank. Generally, the levees are mainly seen 
adjoining the meandering course of the rivers. A natural levee 
has been observed in the Gundar River basin. The width of 
these levees encountered ranges from 2 to 3 km. and covers an 
area of 1.10 km?. 
Flood basin occupying the shallow reaches of the flood plain 
consists of mostly gray and brown sandy, silty-clay and clay. 
Kottakkarai River surface has a flood basin with an area of 
26.83 km?. 
4.1.4 Aeolian Landforms 
Sand dunes and Teri dunes are the most common aeolian land 
forms in the coastal zone of Gulf of Mannar area. Almost entire 
coastal plains in the study area are covered by sand dune 
(Figure 8). 
  
Figure 8. Sand dunes at south of Rameswaram Island 
The area in between swale system and shoreline is marked by 
dune complex. The area covered by dune complex has been 
estimated to be about 469.10 km?. However, extensive spread is 
observed around Rameswaram Island, Mandapam, Mangudi, 
Bharathinagar, Valinokkam, Thunamariyur, Terku Nerippaiyur 
, Tuticorin, Taruvaikkulam and Sippikkulam. In other places the 
areal spread is less. Aeolian process is dominating in this zone