Ram Setu's Tombolo
Ram Setu is a bridge-like construction. It is also known as Adam's bridge in foreign countries. Ram Setu is a bridge with natural limestone reefs between Pamban island and Mannar island. The most interesting thing is that any tombolo connects a small land between an island and a landform.
But Ram Setu is the only tombolo in the world that connects India's Pamban Island to Sri Lanka's Mannar Island. Ram Setu is the only tombolo connecting the two countries. Some geographical evidence suggests that Adam's bridge is a former land that connects both India and Sri Lanka as a bridge.
Mythological Perspective
According to our Hindu mythology, there was a demon king named Ravana. He was the king of Lanka, present-day Sri Lanka. Ravana's sister Surpanaka fell in love with Rama. As Rama is bound to have a single wife, he rejected Surpanaka. Later he said that his brother Lakshamana was also handsome and a great warrior like him.
But Ram Setu is the only tombolo in the world that connects India's Pamban Island to Sri Lanka's Mannar Island. Ram Setu is the only tombolo connecting the two countries. Some geographical evidence suggests that Adam's bridge is a former land that connects both India and Sri Lanka as a bridge. Surpanaka then went to Lakshamana and he also rejected her. Furious Surpanaka went to Seeta to kill her. Because she was the reason why Rama rejected her. Then Lakshmana cut her ears and nose. After that dishonor, Surpanaka went to Lanka and said all that happened to her.
Furious, Ravana abducted Seeta to avenge his sister's dishonor. This is the main reason for the great battle between Rama and Ravana. Also, the tale of Ramayana. Later, with the help of Vanaras, Rama, and Lakshmana found that Seeta is in Lanka. To reach Lanka, they need to cross the great ocean between India and Sri Lanka. Their journey to Lanka stopped there because of the mighty ocean. Then Nala and Neela, the architects of the Vanaras clan suggested to Rama that we must build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka. For that, we need to seek permission from Samudra Deva, the Hindu God of the Sea.
With the blessings of Samudra Deva, with the help of the Vanara clan, they build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka. They reached Lanka and after a vigorous battle, Rama killed Ravana in the battle. This is the historical perspective of the construction of Ram Setu.
Archeological Perspective
Many archeologists say that Ram Setu is just a natural tombolo that occurred before the time of Lord Rama. Ramsetu bridge is a long wide bridge with a 48 km distance and 3 km wide. Many ancient kingdom books and also historians say that the Ram Setu was once a walkable bridge between India and Sri Lanka. There was this walkable passage until the 15th century.
You may think that this is quite exaggerated, but it is true. The records of the famous Ramanathaswamy temple in Sri Rangam say this too. The temple records say that a cyclone broke in the year 1480. Because of this cyclone majority of the bridge got destroyed leaving a few that we are seeing today.
First Discovery of Ram Setu
The existence of Ram Setu was first known to the world outside India in 1966. The famous NASA satellite Gemini-11 found a landmass between India and Sri Lanka. This landmass is 48km long and 3km wide between India and Sri Lanka.
There were a lot of debates going around the origin of this bridge. Scientists, geologists, and archaeologists say that the bridge is nature's wonderful creation. Some people say that this tombolo was built by lord Rama to reach Sri Lanka (present-day Sri Lanka). But the interesting fact is that there was still a debate on whether the bridge is man-made or natural.
Do you know?
Ram Setu, India
Ramsetu bridge is the world's largest tombolo. It is situated between India and Sri Lanka. The distance of this tombolo is around 48 km. It starts from India's Pamban Island to Sri Lanka's Mannar Island. This tombolo is a bridge that starts as a chain of shoals.
Angel Road of Shodo Island, Japan
Angel Road of Shodo island is a sandbar on Shodoshima island. Shodoshima island is situated in the Shikoku region. This tombolo is a 500 meters long sandbar that connects three tiny islands with Shodoshima island. Of all the scenic views in Japan, Angel Road has a separate place.
Bennett Island, Russia
Out of all the De Long Islands, Bennett Island is the largest one. It is in the northern part of the East Serbian Sea. The total area of Bennett island is 150 sq. km. Bennett island has a tombolo at its eastern end.
Bijia Mountain, China
Bijia mountain is an island in the Liaodong Bay of China's Bohai Sea. The island is situated on the south coast of the Jinzhou region of the Liaodong province, Coastal China.
Most of the daytime, Bijiashan can only be accessed by boat. It is a visual wonder to see in a lifetime. You can't believe that there is a tombolo underwater. You can only see the tombolo when the sea recedes. A natural zigzagging cobblestone tombolo will appear. It is over 10 meters wide and links the island to the mainland.
Cheung Chau, Hong Kong
Cheung Chau is an island that is 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. This island also has a nickname called "dumbbell island." The name came due to its dumbbell shape. The formation of this island happened from two mostly granite masses joined by a tombolo.
Gwadar, Pakistan
Gwadar's tombolo is situated on Pakistan's southwestern Arabian Sea coast in the Gwadar District of Balochistan province. Gwadar district is located on a natural hammerhead-shaped tombolo peninsula. It is a tombolo and on the same side a peninsula. This tombolo forms two almost perfect and naturally curved semicircular bays on either side.
Hakodate, Japan
Hakodate was originally an island formed by volcanic eruptions that happened millions of years ago. Throughout history, a sandbar formed between Mount Hakodate and the peninsula. This landform is a tombolo that connects the former Hakodate island with the main peninsula Hokkaido to the north.
Kapıdağ Peninsula, Turkey
Kapıdağ Peninsula is a tombolo located in northwestern Anatolia. It extends into the Sea of Marmara in Balıkesir Province, Turkey. On the east, it forms the Gulf of Bandirma, and on the west Gulf of Erdek.
Sharp Island, Hong Kong
Sharp Island is situated on the margin of the caldera. Over 140 million years ago a volcano was located in Sai Kung. The sea currents near the island pushed gravel and sand near the shore. After many years, the rock and sand formed a natural tombolo connecting Sharp Island and Kiu Tau.
Conclusion
These are not the only tombolos in the world. There are more than 70 tombolos in the world. Out of those, I mentioned a few tombolos present in the Asian continent.
