Puttalam Lagoon

Puttalam Lagoon
Aerial view of the northern-half of the lagoon.
Location	Puttalam
Coordinates
Primary inflows	Kala Oya Mi Oya
Basin countries	Sri Lanka
Max. length	28 km (17 mi)
Max. width	12 km (7 mi)
Surface area	327 km2 (126 sq mi)
Average depth	1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft)
Max. depth	5 m (16.4 ft)
Surface elevation	Sea level
References

The Puttalam Lagoon is a large 327 km² (126 sq mi) lagoon in the Puttalam District, western Sri Lanka.

The lagoon is fed by two rivers, namely the Kala Oya and Mi Oya, discharging at 2.2 m³/s (77.7 cu ft/s) and 8.1 m³/s (286.0 cu ft/s) respectively. It is linked to Mundal Lagoon 15 km (9.3 mi) to the south by a channel. The lagoon's water is brackish to saline.

The lagoon is surrounded by a region containing coconuts, open forests, grasslands and shrublands. The land is used for prawn fishing, salt production, and rice cultivation. The lagoon has extensive mangroves, seagrasses and some salt marshes, attracting a wide variety of anatidae.

Islands

A moderate number islands scatter over the lagoon including:

List of islands in the lagoon from north to south

Island	Area	Location
Ippantivu
Periya Arichchal
Salliyampiddi
Oddakarentivu
Sinna Erumativu
Erumativu
Pambativu
Kilitivu
Neduntivu
Mattutivu
Ambantattivu
Pullupiddi
Somativu
Maripututivu
Kakativu
Udayirputi

See also

• Geography of Sri Lanka