Kokkilai Lagoon

Kokkilai lagoon
கொக்குளாய்
Location Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka
Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka
Coordinates 9°0′N 80°56′E / 9.000°N 80.933°E / 9.000; 80.933Coordinates: 9°0′N 80°56′E / 9.000°N 80.933°E / 9.000; 80.933
Type Lagoon
Primary inflows Churiyan Aru
Primary outflows Indian Ocean
Surface area 29.95 square kilometres (11.56 sq mi)
Max. depth 4 metres (13 ft)
Surface elevation Sea level
Settlements Kokkilai
Kokkuthoduvai

Kokkilai lagoon (Tamil: கொக்குளாய்) is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District and Trincomalee District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Kokkilai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.[1]

The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Churiyan Aru. It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel that is very often blocked by the sand bar. The lagoon's water is brackish.

The lagoon is surrounded by a densely populated region containing cultivated land, scrubland and open forest. The land is used for prawn fishing, paddy cultivation and some shifting cultivation.

The lagoon has extensive sea grass beds and small areas of mangrove swamp and mudflats. The shallow waters of the lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including pelican, cormorant, herons, egrets, wild duck, stork, waders and pink flamingoes.[2]

The lagoon was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1951.

References

  1. "Kokku'laay". TamilNet. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  2. "From Kanniyai to Kokkilai via Tiriyaya". Daily News, Sri Lanka. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
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