Chalai Lagoon

Chalai Lagoon
Location	Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	9°23′N 80°40′E / 9.383°N 80.667°E / 9.383; 80.667Coordinates: 9°23′N 80°40′E / 9.383°N 80.667°E / 9.383; 80.667
Type	Lagoon
Primary outflows	Indian Ocean

Surface area	14.6 square kilometres (5.6 sq mi)
Surface elevation	Sea level

Settlements	Chalai Putumattalan Valayanmadam

Chalai Lagoon is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chalai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.

The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers. It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel near Chalai. The lagoon's water is brackish.

The lagoon is surrounded by dense forest, scrubland and some rice paddies. The land is used for fishing and some salt production.

The lagoon has extensive sea grass beds and mangrove swamp. The lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including ducks, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.

References

S.W. Kotagama, Leonard Pinto and Jayampathi L. Samarakoon. "Sri Lanka" (PDF). Wetlands International. Retrieved 23 May 2009.

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Dams and reservoirs

With hydroelectric capabilities	Bowatenna Broadlands Canyon Dam Castlereigh Deduru Oya Gal Oya Kotmale Kukule Ganga Laxapana Maskeliya Moragahakanda Nilambe Norton Polgolla Randenigala Rantembe Samanala Udawalawe Upper Kotmale Victoria

For irrigation only	Giant's Tank Inginimitiya Iranamadu Kalu Ganga Kandalama Kantale Lunugamwehera Maduru Oya Muthuiyankaddu Kulam Rajanganaya Rambakan Oya Ratkinda Ulhitiya Vavuni Kulam

Ancient tanks	Beira Lake Diyawanna Kala Wewa Kandy Lake Minneriya Sembuwatta Lake Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura) Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama)

Lagoons

East coast	Batticaloa Lagoon Chalai Lagoon Chundikkulam Lagoon Kokkilai Lagoon Kokkilai Lagoon Nai Aru Lagoon Nanthi Lagoon Ullackalie Lagoon Upaar Lagoon Vadamarachchi Lagoon Valaichchenai Lagoon

West coast	Jaffna Lagoon Mundal Lagoon Negombo Lagoon Puttalam Lagoon Uppu Aru Lagoon

Rivers

≥100km	Deduru Oya Gal Oya Gin Ganga Kala Oya Kalu Ganga (Kukule Ganga) Kelani River (Kehelgamu Oya Maskeliya Oya Pusweli Oya) Kirindi Oya Kumbukkan Oya Maduru Oya Maha Oya Mahaweli River (Amban Ganga Kotmale Oya Nanu Oya) Malvathu River Menik Ganga Mi Oya Walawe River (Belihul Oya) Yan Oya

<100km	Akkarayan Aru Kanakarayan Aru Kodalikkallu Aru Madu Ganga Mandekal Aru Mavil Aru Nay Aru (Mannar) Nay Aru (Mullaitivu) Netheli Aru Pali Aru Pallavarayankaddu Aru Parangi Aru Per Aru Piramenthal Aru Theravil Aru Valukkai Aru Verugal Aru

Related organizations

Mahaweli Authority
Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management

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