Where is Adam's Bridge located? Description and photo. The Rama Bridge is an amazing creation of nature or an ancient megalith. In the footsteps of the Ramayana

interesting geological feature, known as Adam's bridge (or Adam's bridge), can be seen in the Palk Strait, which separates Sri Lanka from mainland India.

Adam's Bridge is a chain of islets and shoals, which from space looks like the remains of an ancient crossing between Ceylon (as the island of Sri Lanka was called until 1972) and southern part peninsulas of Hindustan.

Where is Adam's Bridge

The bridge "connects" (if I may say so) southern part India with the northwestern part of Sri Lanka through the Palk Strait.

Geographic coordinates 9.086626, 79.569763

What does Adam's Bridge look like?

The distance between India and Sri Lanka is about 100 kilometers. On the mainland side, Adam's Bridge starts from Pamban Island. This is a piece of land stretched for almost 30 km. From the side of Sri Lanka, the starting point of the bridge is the island of Mannar. It also stretches for about 30 km.

It is clearly seen from space that this narrow isthmus in ancient times actually connected Sri Lanka with the continent. In confirmation, records are given from local temples, telling that until the 15th century it was possible to get from India to Sri Lanka by land. However, in 1480, during the most powerful storms and cyclones, overland trail was destroyed. Yes, and on shipping maps of the 15th century, Adam's Bridge is shown as dry land.

On this moment Adam's Bridge has 103 shallows. Although this can be argued, because during periodic rises in sea level, many islands are under a meter layer of water. The methods for counting islands are also very approximate. Using satellite maps Google maps, we counted about 20 major islands besides Pamban and Mannar.

Geology

The sea in this area is quite shallow, about 1-10 meters. The presence of shoals significantly complicates navigation here. Only a small strait of Pamban between the island of the same name and India can be used for the passage of small ships.

Geologists in the 19th century put forward two main theories for the formation of the Adam's bridge.

The first suggests that it arose in the process of accretion and uplift of the earth in this area.

According to the second, it is believed that the isthmus was the result of the separation of Sri Lanka from mainland India. The fragile limestone ridges later turned into large rectangular blocks, which gave rise to the belief that it was a man-made structure.

Historical information

The bridge was first mentioned in the ancient Indian Sanskrit epic Ramayana. There it is called RamaSetu, which means Rama's Bridge.

The sea separating India and Sri Lanka is called Sethusamudram (in the original Sethusamudram), which means "Sea of ​​the Bridge" in translation.

Europeans first heard about it in the middle of the 9th century from the Book of Roads and Kingdoms by the Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbe. The very first mention of this place exactly as Adam's bridge dates back to 1804. Some sources associate the bridge with famous mountain Sri Lanka - the famous Adam's Peak. According to legend, Adam, expelled from Paradise, descended the mountain and walked overland from Sri Lanka to India, heading to Eve. Accordingly, the transition was named after him.

Another legend of Adam's Bridge

The Brahmins (Hindu priestly caste) call it Rama's Bridge. From the epic "Ramayana" it follows that the construction of the bridge was carried out under the leadership of Emperor Rama. Moreover, in addition to people, monkeys from the so-called Vanara Army were also involved. The bridge was built so that the emperor's troops moved to Sri Lanka for a decisive battle with Ravana, the evil king of Rakshasa, who kidnapped Rama's beloved, Sita.
In the epic, the bridge is called Setubandhanam, and this name is still used today.

Current state and problems of the Adam's bridge

Large seagoing vessels coming from the west circle around Sri Lanka to reach eastern shores India. This is more than 800 kilometers and about 30 hours of time.

The Indian authorities have developed a project to deepen a section of the strait near the Adam's Bridge. But a lot of people and organizations oppose such construction. The main emphasis is on the fact that the Adam's bridge is described in the Ramayana and has a great religious significance. In addition, there are concerns about the impact of dredging on the ecology and marine ecosystem of the area. The opposition argues that proper scientific research was not carried out to implement this project. Therefore, while the project remains unrealized.

Adam's bridge in tourism

For tourists, there are two-hour boat trips on boats that depart from the coastal city of Talaimanar from Sri Lanka. It is noteworthy that ships of the Sri Lankan Navy are used for walks. Usually 8 tourists and 2 accompanying crew members are placed on board. Walks are made from 7-00 to 16-00.

And earlier it was possible to get from India to Sri Lanka by train.

By train from India to Sri Lanka

Parallel to the islands of Adam's Bridge was a ferry railway crossing. She connected the cities of Dhanushkodi in India with Talaimanar in Sri Lanka. During British colonization region, this crossing was part of the Indo-Ceylon railway. could buy railway ticket from Chennai (India) to Colombo (Sri Lanka).

The journey was by rail from Chennai to Pamban Island, then by ferry to Talaimanar, and then again by rail to Colombo. But in 1964, a cyclone completely destroyed Dhanushkodi, and the railway ferry crossing ceased to exist.

1. On one of the shoals of the Adam's Bridge is the border between India and Sri Lanka. This border is among the shortest land borders in the world.
2. Until now, scientists are arguing whether the Adam's bridge is a natural formation or is it the work of man.
3. They say that even now you can go from Sri Lanka to India along the Adam's bridge, periodically plunging into water up to your waist

Adam's bridge video

The video says that Railway still exists parallel to the bridge, but it is not visible from the satellite, so let us doubt it. Everything else is quite worthy of your attention.

IN last years we have witnessed an amazing paradox: science, which traditionally does not believe in God, is getting more and more evidence that religious narratives are not fairy tales, but a true story. Suffice it to recall the Adam's bridge connecting the shores of ... India and Sri Lanka!

Expelled from Paradise

Everyone is familiar bible story Adam and Eve. Having tasted the forbidden fruit and thereby angering the Lord God, the first people were expelled from Paradise as a punishment. Another religious tale? However, more and more scholars are inclined to believe that Paradise actually existed, and Adam and Eve were real historical characters.

Currently ancient building is a string of shallows and coral islands, in some places connected by a sand spit, which is located in the Polk Strait, between the island of Sri Lanka and the Hindustan Peninsula. The length of the bridge is about 50 km. Most of it is now under water at a depth of about 1-1.25 m and see all the majesty ancient building only possible from a bird's eye view or aerial photography.

A series of images from space taken by NASA from satellites and shuttles in both the 1960s and 2000s clearly show the ruins of a grandiose artificial structure appearing under the waters indian ocean. But according to old English, Portuguese and Arabic sea ​​charts about 600 years ago, the bridge towered above sea level, was several meters wide and was used for pedestrian communication between India and Sri Lanka. However, in 1480, as a result of a strong earthquake and the subsequent tsunami, the bridge was destroyed, and ocean waves hid its remains.

Army of humans and monkeys

Today, few people question the very fact of the existence of the Adam's Bridge. The main controversy revolved around whether this is a man-made structure or a natural formation.

It would seem that such a gigantic structure in the middle of the ocean strait cannot be built by human hands, even with the use of modern construction equipment and materials. So there is nothing to argue about: "Adam's bridge" is a natural geological formation. However, not all so simple.

Few people know that the name "Adam's Bridge" is relatively young. Previously, this structure was called "Rama's bridge". The first mention of it can be found in the ancient Indian epic "Ramayana", the creation of which is dated by modern scientists of the 6th or even 7th century. BC.

According to the epic, the bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka was built by order of the legendary ancient Indian king Rama, who is the seventh avatar (incarnation) of the supreme Hindu deity Vishnu. Hindus and many modern scholars consider Rama to be a real historical figure, a king who ruled most of modern India about 1.2 million years ago.

According to legend, Rama once needed to transport his army to the island of Sri Lanka to fight the army of the demon king Ravana. And he ordered Nala, the son of the legendary divine architect Vishvakarman, to build a huge bridge across the entire strait. Curiously, not only people participated in the construction of this gigantic structure - the subjects of the Indian king, but also his allies - the army of apes led by the monkey king Hanuman. The Ramayana says that Hanuman "shot" lightning from his staff at giant coastal rocks, after which they collapsed exactly in the place that was needed, and became the foundation of the future bridge. Today, such a "fabulous" technology will surprise few people - it is very similar to controlled explosions. In addition, in the Ramayana there are indications of other technologies that are not yet available to us, which were used during this grandiose construction.

And by the way, here is another argument in favor of the man-made Adam's Bridge: according to radiocarbon analysis conducted by Professor Ramasami from the University of Bharathidasan, the age of the geological rocks underlying the structure coincides in time with the period described in the Ramayana.

Bridge or canal?

Adam's bridge throughout the entire shipping history of our civilization has been a terrible hindrance to merchant ships. To "go around" it, ships are forced to make a detour of 780 km, skirting Sri Lanka. Back in 1860, the British Commander Taylor proposed to build a shipping canal between Sri Lanka and India - this would save sailors at least 30 hours of time, not to mention tons of fuel. Only almost a century later, in 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru decided to take on this grandiose plan. But only recently the government of India approved the project of the canal, and the Sethusamudram corporation started dredging.

But unexpectedly grandiose project there were opponents advocating the preservation of the bridge. They argue that the “Rama Bridge” is an ancient shrine, destroying which is tantamount to destroying the great heritage of the ancients with your own hands. And in fact: there are not so many monuments left by mankind that are more than a million years old ...

Adam's Bridge or Rama's Bridge is a 48 km long chain of shallow water and coral islets connecting India with the island of Sri Lanka ( former name— Ceylon). Indians today and earlier consider the Adam's bridge to be an artificial structure. It was built by Rama in ancient times, for local residents the bridge is revered as a sacred place.

In the area of ​​Adam's Bridge between the islets, there is an amazing rise in the seabed from a depth of 10–12 to 1–0.5 meters. Thus, the bridge can be walked on foot, being waist-deep in water. unusual bridge has a length of 30 kilometers. It stretched from the island of Rameswaram (translated as the place of God Rama) to southwest coast India to the island of Mannar off the coast of Sri Lanka.

18 km southeast of Rameswaram on sand spit in ancient times there was a city of Dhanushkodi. It was completely destroyed by a cyclone in 1964. After the rampage of the elements, only one temple remained intact. It was near him that the enemies of Rama surrendered to him. According to some reports, in the area of ​​​​the sandy spit at the bottom lies another temple, about which information has not reached our times. From this place begins Adam's bridge (or Rama's bridge).

Disputes about the history of the Adam's bridge

The debate about whether the bridge was artificial or natural flared up in full force in 2001. Then the government of India decided to destroy the Adam's bridge and make the Strait of Polk navigable. This would save about 30 hours of sailing around the islands (about 400 km.).

The navigable canal was proposed to be built here back in 1850 by the English commander Taylor. In 1955, Jevaharlal Nehru wanted to implement the same plan. However sacred places It was unethical to destroy his people, so the Supreme Court of India declared that there is no historical evidence of the construction of the ancient bridge by Rama. The Ramayana, although a sacred book for the Indians, was not taken into account.

Assistance from the international community

On March 27, 2007, a group of civil society organizations from around the world launched the SaveRamSethu (Save Rama's Bridge) campaign to save the Adam's Bridge. March 27 is considered Rama's birthday. For the people of India, the Rama Bridge is the real proof of their ancient history and culture, and destruction and construction would touch the feelings of millions of believers.

Opponents of the canal's construction said that if the Adam's Bridge were to be destroyed, it would affect the entire ecosystem of the area. To the northeast of the bridge is the dangerous Polksky Bay with cyclones and storms. In the southwest is the calm Manara Bay with crystal clear waters. The Adam's Bridge separates these two completely different bays and softens the severe effects of the elements.

According to scientists, the 2004 tsunami that hit India and claimed thousands of lives was seriously weakened by the Rama Bridge. Otherwise, there would have been much more victims. The SaveRamSethu petition was supported by thousands of people.

The defenders of the Adam's Bridge proposed another option for constructing a navigable canal without destroying the ancient structure. You can dig it sandbar near the Indian village of Mandapam. Whether the arguments of environmentalists will be heard by the Indian authorities is not known. However, in 2007 the Madras high court issued a decision stating that Adam's Bridge is man-made structure.

Evidence of the reality of the construction of an ancient bridge

Photographs taken in the early 2000s by NASA added to the heat of the controversy. The photo clearly shows the real bridge, although NASA officials said that it is not correct to judge the age and origin of the chain of islands from the pictures. The Indian newspaper HindustanTimes was not embarrassed and reported that NASA images prove the reality of Indian legends.

The surviving part of Rama's bridge (or Adam's bridge)

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted a study on the structure of the Adam's Bridge. Soil samples were thoroughly studied, for which 100 wells were drilled in the area of ​​the bridge. Conducted a magnetic scan. The study revealed that the underwater ridge that forms the bridge with a width of 1.6 to 4 kilometers could not have arisen naturally.

Research results

The underwater ridge is an accumulation of stones, sand and corals. .Boulders measuring 1.5x2.5 meters are mostly regular in shape, consist of limestone. This mound lies on sea ​​sand, thickness from 3 to 5 meters. and only after it begins solid ground. It is the presence of sand below the boulders that indicates the man-made appearance of the Adam's bridge, since they are clearly laid on top of the sandy soil.

Scientists have found that this section of the earth platform did not rise as a result of any geological processes and is a dam. In the wells, the researchers found a homogeneous material - limestone. The ordered nature of the masonry also speaks of man-made origin bridge. Someone brought the boulders and laid them in the dam.

The opinions of scientists differed in determining the age and in the method of origin of the bridge. History has proven time and time again that the truth often lies behind it. After all, Heinrich Schliemann believed Homer and found ancient Troy, contrary to the opinion of most scientists.

History of the ancient bridge

Rama's bridge (RamasetuSetu or Setubandha) is also translated from Sanskrit as an artificial embankment. In ancient texts and in the Ramayana mystical building is referred to as the Sacred Causeway and as the bridge of Nala, and in one version of the Ramayana, this Sacred Causeway is mentioned throughout a whole chapter. The mention of the construction of the Rama bridge is also found in the Indian sacred books - Puranas and in the Mahabharata.

In the atlas of Schwarzberg (on p. 38) of the period 1290-1390 AD, on the map of India, Adam's bridge is referred to as Setubandha (Artificial embankment). For many centuries ancient bridge was well known to travelers and geographers. Even the great Marco Polo described the Adam's Bridge in his book IL MILIONE.

According to information from old maps, until 1480, the Rama Bridge was pedestrian and people walked across it from India to Sri Lanka, which is confirmed ancient map Ptolemy. Later, Adam's Bridge was destroyed by tsunamis and earthquakes. As a result, the bridge sank about 1 meter under the water, and in one place the bridge even formed a gap, which now can only be overcome by swimming.

The locals have always called the ancient structure Rama's bridge. The British, who captured India, told about another name for the bridge. Adam's Bridge is the name given to the bridge by Muslims. According to Arabic legends, when Adam was expelled from paradise, God settled him on the island of Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). On the shallows of the bridge, Adam was able to cross to the mainland, heading towards Eve.

Higher power intervention?

Despite the protests of the population and the public, the Sethusamudram firm decided to start work on the construction of the future canal. However, for reasons unknown, a number of dredging dredgers were returned due to breakage. Also, the teeth of the construction buckets were broken. Unexpectedly for that time of year, a strong storm came up and scattered the ships, preventing the builders from working. According to believing Hindus, this is Hanuman, the Monkey King, who protected his creation from destruction.

Watch the documentary "Rama's Bridge"

From the cycle "Mysteries of our planet"
If you fly over the sea between India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon), then at some point you can notice a strange shoal located literally at the very surface, which, bending slightly, connects the island and the continent. The Muslims call this sandbank the bridge of Adam, and the Hindus - the bridge of Rama.

Strange Shoal
The Muslim name is due to the fact that the followers of this religion believe that Adam, expelled from paradise, descended to earth in Ceylon. And on the continent, in India, he crossed this strange shoal, so much like a bridge.

Hindus even believe that this is really a man-made bridge, built in ancient times on the orders of Emperor Rama by an army of monkeys led by Hanuman. According to the Ramayana, Nala, the son of the legendary divine architect Vishwakarman, supervised the construction, and Rama's troops crossed over this bridge to Sri Lanka to fight with its ruler, the demon Ravana, who kidnapped Rama's beloved Sita.

On the Arab medieval maps, it is marked as a real bridge rising above the water, along which anyone could cross from India to Ceylon. The situation changed in 1480, when, as a result of a strong earthquake and the strongest storm that followed, the bridge sank and was partially destroyed. However, the Portuguese and the British still marked it on the maps as an artificial structure, dam or bridge.

The length of the bridge is almost 50 kilometers, its width varies from about 1.5 to 4 kilometers, the depth of the seabed around the structure is 10-12 meters. Most of it is hidden by water, sometimes at a depth of more than a meter. So even now it is quite possible to walk along it from beginning to end, either wandering along the stone canvas knee-deep in water, or going deeper to the waist and more.

The only major obstacle is the so-called Pambas passage between Rameswar Island and Ramnad Point, which is accessible to small merchant ships. The few travelers who decide to make such a transition have to use all their swimming skills here. For those who are not strong in this, it is better not to walk on the bridge at all - a strong current through Pambas strives to demolish the daredevils into the open sea.

damn channel
Large ships are still forced to sail around Sri Lanka, which takes an extra 800 kilometers, which is 30 hours of travel. To solve this problem, back in 1850, the English commander Taylor proposed to draw a canal through the Rama bridge. In 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru wished to implement this plan. Since it is somehow unethical to destroy the sacred places of one's own people, the government of the country Supreme Court India has stated that there is no historical evidence of the construction of the bridge by Rama. Although the Ramayana is a holy book, it somehow does not count.

But real passions about the construction of the canal flared up already in the 21st century, when the Setusa Mudram corporation was formed for this. She even took up construction work at the site of the future canal, but for unknown reasons, part of the dredges was returned to the port due to breakages, including bucket teeth. An unexpected storm scattered the vessels involved in the construction and did not allow the work to continue. Hindu believers immediately declared that it was the monkey king Hanuman guarding his creation.

On March 27, 2007, just on Rama's birthday, a group of international public organizations launched the Save Ram Sethu campaign - Save Rama's Bridge. Since for Hindus the Rama Bridge is a living proof of their ancient history, the construction that began touched the feelings of millions of believers. Campaign activists also said that the destruction of the bridge would destroy the entire local ecosystem. Indeed, to the northeast of the bridge is the stormy and dangerous Polk Strait with its storms and cyclones, and to the southwest is the calm Gulf of Manara with the purest water emerald color.

The Rama Bridge separates them and softens the terrible consequences of cyclones and tsunamis. So, according to scientists, the tsunami that hit India in 2004 and claimed tens of thousands of lives was significantly weakened by the Rama Bridge. Without this ancient "dam", there could have been much more victims. The Save Ram Sethu proclamation was signed by thousands of people. The defenders of the bridge propose to accept an alternative project: to dig a canal through a large sandbank near the village of Mandapam. Whether they will be heard by the Indian government remains to be seen.

Facts show: the bridge is man-made
In many ways, we are already accustomed to the fact that behind legends and myths reality and long-turned pages of the past of our planet are often hidden. Nevertheless, the images that NASA released a few years ago surprised even the inhabitants of Sri Lanka and India.

On them, with all the clarity that modern photographic equipment gives, a real bridge between the continent and Ceylon is visible. After the publication of the NASA images, the Indian newspaper The Hindustan Times reported that the images obtained by American satellites were evidence of the reality of Indian legends, and that the events narrated by the Ramayana, including the construction of the Rama Bridge, really took place.

However, NASA chose to distance itself from any specific statements. Yes, satellite photos clearly show the amazing geomorphology of the area. But, NASA says, "Remote sensing images from orbit alone cannot provide specific information about the origin or age of the island chain, and cannot determine human involvement in the origin of the object."

But the data that allows us to judge this was received by the Geological Survey of India 6SI. Its specialists examined the entire structure of the Rama Bridge. 100 boreholes were drilled in and around the bridge, and soil samples were carefully studied. Magnetic and bathymetric scans were carried out. As a result, it was found that a low underwater ridge (bridge) is a clear anomaly, since it appears at the bottom quite unexpectedly.

The ridge is a cluster of boulders measuring 1.5x2.5 meters in regular shape, consisting of limestone, sand and coral. These boulders lie on the sea sand, which is 3 to 5 meters thick. And only under the sand begins solid stone soil. The presence of free sand below the boulders obviously indicates that the ridge is not a natural formation, but laid on top of sandy soil. Some of the boulders are so light that they can float on water.

It was also found that these land areas did not rise as a result of any geological processes and rather resemble a dam. A homogeneous material, limestone, was found in the wells. The rectilinear and orderly nature of the laying also testifies in favor of the fact that these boulders were brought by someone and laid in the dam.

It seems strange, of course, that the bridge has simply an exorbitant width for the crossing of troops, and anything else. But that's by today's standards. Here is what Alexander Volkov, the director of the 2009 film, says documentary film"Rama's Bridge":

Legends say that it was built by monkey warriors who were of gigantic growth. And we even tried to illustrate in the film that the height of these giants was - you won't believe it - 8 meters! But, looking at this bridge, you involuntarily begin to believe in it - there is no point in building such a width for you and me. But for people who are eight meters tall, and at the same time have some kind of weapons, there probably appears a logic in the width of this bridge.

In general, there are many questions, of course, many. One such issue is the age of the bridge. Based on the legends, some Hindu theologians say that Rama's bridge is a million years old, others give a more modest age - 20 thousand years. Western researchers-alternatives put forward a really radical version - 17 million years. Even Indian academic science condescended to solving the problem and offered its own version - 3500 years, obviously linking construction with the Aryan conquest of India. However, with many ambiguities, it is obvious that the Rama Bridge is indeed an artificial, man-made structure. The studies conducted by GSI, I dare to believe, have convincingly proved this.

Most of all, people are not worried about where the Adam's Bridge is located. Is this a real bridge or a curiosity of nature? This is what excites the minds of ufologists, occultists, and quite serious scientists. And if the dam is man-made, then the following question arises: "Who created it?". In the article we will study this problem.

Why the bridge is called so - Adam, or Rama (in Hinduism) - belongs to the realm of legends. When and how the passage was destroyed has been established by science. Where the Adam's Bridge is located can be seen on maps and images from space. Now the fate of this natural or man-made formation is being decided. Owners sea ​​vessels advocate deepening the passage for passage through it big ships. Ecologists protest furiously. After all, the tsunami of 2004 was weakened on the coast of India and Sri Lanka precisely because of the chain of islands. Ecologists in their fight to protect the Rama Bridge are helped by Hindus. After all, this dam serves as a confirmation of their ancient history. But let's look at the problem in a complex way.

Where is Adam's Bridge located?

Scientific publications describe this attraction as a group of islets and shoals, which stretches in a chain from Pamban (another name for Rameshwaram) in the state of Tamilnadu in southwestern India to Mannar in the north of the island-republic of Sri Lanka. This formation goes almost straight, only slightly curving, almost fifty kilometers. The width of the bridge ranges from one and a half to four kilometers. Between the islands, the depth of the sea is about half a meter, in some places a little more. So, if you wish, you can go almost all the way (more precisely, forty kilometers), wandering in the water either knee-deep or waist-deep. The only major obstacle is the Pambas Strait. It is located between Cape Ramnad and Rameswar Island. The strait is not very deep and is accessible only for passage not large ships. You should not test your skill and endurance and overcome Pambas by swimming. The strait is not wide, but a strong current carries such reckless daredevils into the sea.

Why is the passage between India and Sri Lanka called that?

For Christian and Muslim sailors, this is the Adam's Bridge. "Rama's Bridge" is the name given to the chain of islets and shoals by believing Hindus. Why? This is explained by two legends. Bible believers believe that the story described in the Book of Genesis took place over the island of Ceylon. God expelled Adam and Eve from his paradise, and they found themselves in no less beautiful place. The Creator of the Universe placed the man in Ceylon. And therefore there is a mountain called Adam's Peak. God brought Eve to India. And over the bridge, Adam crossed to the mainland. There the first pair united again and populated the whole earth with their offspring. Therefore, the bridge is called Adamov. According to the Hindus, the dam was built in ancient times by an army of giant monkeys led by Hanuman. The demon Ravana kidnapped Rama's beloved Sita and fled with her to Ceylon. The divine emperor ordered the construction of a bridge connecting Hindustan with the island. The work was supervised by the son of the god Vishwakarman Nal. On this dam, an army of monkeys crossed to Ceylon and fought with the demon. All these events are described in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

What do the facts say?

On old maps Portuguese and Arab navigators depict the real Adam's bridge. Sri Lanka and the Hindustan peninsula were connected by a pedestrian causeway until the end of the fifteenth century. Even horse-drawn travelers and carts followed this bridge. But in 1480, a powerful earthquake occurred in these places. The bottom of the sea sank a little. And the strongest storm that began after the earthquake washed away the islands and spits that had gone under water. Unfortunately, this was not the last blow of the elements. In 1964, a powerful cyclone completely destroyed the city of Dhanushkodi, which was located on a sandy spit eighteen kilometers southeast of Rameshwarama. Only the temple of Kothandaraswami survived. According to the Ramayana, at this place Rama captured some of his enemies. And not far at the bottom of the sea is another temple, the date of construction of which has not been preserved. From Kothandaraswami, the Rama Bridge officially begins.

tourist attraction

Near the islets are nothing special. They are composed of petrified corals, pressed sand and igneous rocks. This made it possible for scientists to assert that the Rama Bridge is just the remnants of a reef, like many atolls in the tropical and equatorial latitudes of the ocean. It is much more interesting to contemplate this attraction from the air, for example. Adam's bridge, the photo clearly shows this, looks like man-made. The shallows are perfectly visible, and it seems that the dam extends continuously over the water. Due to the latitude of a couple of kilometers, the Rama Bridge is visible even from space. And pictures taken by NASA a few years ago shed light on the origin of the strange mound. Condescended to study Rama's Bridge and the Indian Geological Survey. Its specialists drilled a number of wells and took rock samples. In addition, in some places between the mainland and the islands, it is possible transport connection. Through the Gulf of Pamban built It connects mainland India with the island of the same name.

Who built the Adam's Bridge?

Alas, this question is still open. Although everything more people tend to think that this dam is of artificial origin. But is it anthropogenic? After all, the age of this structure (if we have the right to call it that) is quite solid. Some give the dam several million years! What kind of civilization could build a bridge when there was no Homo sapiens as a biological species? Can we assume that the bridge was built by aliens? But if some highly organized community was able to travel so many kilometers, measured in light years, to reach the Earth, doesn't it seem strange that it needed to build a dam of boulders to overcome fifty kilometers? Is it more reasonable to consider that the age of the bridge is about three to five thousand years and its builders are representatives of the Neolithic civilization?

Arguments for natural origin

Adam's Bridge is a chain of islands. It is possible, and even most likely, that the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was part of Eurasia in ancient times. Millions of years ago, under the influence of the movement of geological plates, the formation of the strait began. The bottom sank (as happened already during the earthquake of 1480) and only islands remained on the site of the former isthmus. In the warm tropical sea around them rose Coral reefs, and the current brought sand. From this, long braids were formed, which people used until the end of the fifteenth century in order to get to Ceylon.

Arguments in favor of artificial origin

Aerial shots show just how blue the sea around the Rama Bridge is. The depth there is significant - about ten to fifteen meters. If we assume that the Adam's Bridge is a remnant of the isthmus, then it is not clear where the rest of the continental shelf went. This ridge appears at a depth quite unexpectedly and, thus, is a clear Yes, sounding showed that the bridge is composed of sand and corals. But after all, among the building material there are also boulders, as well as in some places limestone. In addition, studies have revealed a clear form of masonry. Boulders of a clear shape are two and a half meters by one and a half. These stones are laid on top of a layer of sand - and this is the most obvious evidence of the artificial origin of the embankment.

NASA findings

Pictures of this reputable American space exploration agency spilled on the mystery of the bridge more light than the comments of his experts. The photo was taken from an orbiting satellite at maximum expansion. Looking at the picture, it is impossible to assume that all this is a curiosity of nature. But the conclusion of NASA specialists leaves the question open: "The image of this object obtained by remote sensing from orbit cannot provide specific information about its age and origin." So the Adam's Bridge remains a mystery of our time.

The fight for the preservation of landmarks

It does not matter whether this mound is man-made or natural, but it greatly interferes with navigation. Ships have to make a detour of four hundred kilometers to get from the southern part of Hindustan to Ceylon. Back in the nineteenth century, the British raised the question of expanding the Pambas Strait for the passage of large ships. In the fifties, even the government of D. Nehru decided to eliminate the Adam's bridge. But a giant storm destroyed all the technical undertakings of the work. Now, not only brahmins are now supporting the salvation of the Rama bridge, claiming that it is proof of everything described in the Ramayana. Ecologists also advocate for the safety of the chain of islands. After all, this embankment, they believe, softens the effect of tsunamis and large storms on the two coasts.