Uncovering Adam’s Bridge: The Lost Land Link Between India and Sri Lanka

Adam’s Bridge connects India and Sri Lanka through a series of limestone shoals extending from Rameswaram Island to Mannar Island. Once a solid land bridge, it has eroded over time but still supports rich biodiversity and provides critical habitat for marine and bird species.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite image shows Adam’s Bridge, a chain of shoals linking India and Sri Lanka.

Adam’s Bridge stretches 48 km (30 miles) between Rameswaram Island, off the southeast coast of India, and Mannar Island, off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge separates the Gulf of Mannar (south), an inlet of the Indian Ocean, from the Palk Strait (north), an inlet of the Bay of Bengal.