Gulf, bay or strait

Palk Bay

Palk Bay on the mapOpen in Map Explorer →

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Overview

Palk Bay lies north of Ram Setu, between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka; the Gulf of Mannar lies to its south. It is one of India's coral reef areas.

Its seagrass beds shelter the dugong, India's only herbivorous marine mammal, protected in the Dugong Conservation Reserve notified in 2022. Fishing in Palk Bay and the arrests of Tamil Nadu fishers are a recurring India–Sri Lanka issue.

Geography and key facts

  • Between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, north of Ram Setu
  • Coral reefs and seagrass beds
  • Dugong Conservation Reserve (2022)
  • Fishing disputes with Sri Lanka

Why it matters for UPSC

Asked on where Palk Bay lies (1996); also a GS2 India–Sri Lanka topic.

Note for UPSC

North of Ram Setu, between India and Sri Lanka.

Useful for questions on maritime geography, ports and islands nearby.

Asked in PYQs

Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Palk Bay.

Key facts

Type
Gulf, bay or strait
State / UT
Tamil Nadu
Coordinates
9.500°N, 79.250°E
Asked in Prelims
1 question · 1996

From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.

In the lessons

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