One of the most detailed, and first complete undersea map of Ram Setu is generated by The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge confirms that the submerged ridge is in “continuity”. It starts from Dhanushkodi in India and extends to Talaimannar Island in Sri Lanka.
This ISRO’s project included scientists and researchers from Jodhpur and Hyderabad National Remote Sensing Centres. They collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite ICESat-2. They bounced laser beams off the seafloor and found that 99.8 percent of Ram Setu is submerged under shallow water.
Adam’s Bridge is different in different areas. It is Ram Setu in the Indian subcontinent, off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka, along with Rameswaram Island. It is off the southeast coast of India, and it is a chain of shoals between Mannar Island.
The Recent Study on Map of Ram Setu
After the creation of the landmark Ayodhya Ram Mandir, the creation of the map of Ram Setu was one of the great achievements of Indians. The recent study by ISRO scientists has postulated the following findings:
- On both sides of Ram Setu, an asymmetry of transverse slopes to the base is present. This suggests a dominant slip of material energy from the Gulf of Mannar waters as compared to the Palk Strait.
- The volume of the Adam’s Bridge is calculated to be a value of about 1 km3.
- Only 0.02% of this volume is present above the sea level and is visible in optical satellite imagery.
- The remaining 99.98% is submerged in shallow and super shallow waters.
- Ram Setu is a submarine continuation of Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar Island.
- Along the top of Ram Setu, the water is uneven for around 1.5 kilometers on both sides. Also in these areas water depth suddenly changes.
Earlier researchers have confirmed the presence of the submerged structure. The earlier attempts to generate the map of Ram Setu were affected by the shallow and super-shallow depths. So they only focus their mapping on the unsubmerged or the elevated portion.
However, this time the researchers went a step ahead and used photons that emanated from ICESat-2’s green laser. These photons can potentially study the seafloor up to a depth of around 40 meters.
The researcher’s study says,
“Taking a cue from this potentiality, in our research, we have accrued approx. 0.2 million photons representing the depth-information and generated a 10-meter resolution bathymetric data for the extent of Adam’s Bridge.”
Facts About Ram Setu
Sure, here are some facts about Ram Setu in bullet points and easy language:
- The bridge is said to be 48 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide.
- The bridge is a chain of limestone shoals located on the Palk Strait between Rameshwaram Island of India and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka.
- According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, the Ram Setu was built by Lord Rama’s money army to rescue Sita mata from the demon king Ravana in Lanka.
- The Ramayana describes the bridge as being made of floating stones that were tethered together.
- There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of the bridge, but many Hindus believe that it is a real place.
- The bridge is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and there is a movement to have it declared a national heritage site.
- Much geological evidence sees this bridge as proof of some earlier land connection between India and Sri Lanka.
- Geological Survey of India has stated that Adam’s Bridge is around 7,000 to 18,000 years old.
- This survey also suggests that Rameswaram and Talaimannar were above the water at that time.
- Some archaeological evidence, such as coral dating, says that it was formed about 500-600 years ago.
- Moreover, they also claim that it is a natural structure, not artificial.
- Records suggest that people used to walk on it until the 15th century when it was above sea level until 1480.
- Many natural disasters caused it to submerge in the shallow sea.
Sethusamudram Project
This trail of limestone that connects Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka was planned to dredge for ships in the 19th century by the Britishers. Reviving this plan, the project Sethusamudram project came into being. It aims at making the travel of large ships easier along the Indian coast or between the east and west coasts. Many scientists are of the view that the Palk Strait, along with the Gulf of Mannar, were parts of the Kaveri River basin.
Final Line:
The first full-fledged map of Ram Setu is a landmark step in the development of science and technology. It not only maps a bridge, but this map also symbolizes our journey from darkness to knowledge.
Also Read: Special Jyotirlinga Pilgrimage Train Under Dekho Apna Desh Initiative
