Jaffna Peninsula

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Map of the Jaffna Peninsula

The Jaffna Peninsula ( Tamil : யாழ்ப்பாணக் குடாநாடு Yāḻppāṇak kuṭānāṭu , Sinhala : යාපනය අර්ධද්වීපය Yāpanaya ardhadvīpaya , English Jaffna Peninsula ) is a stretch of land in the northern province of Sri Lanka . It takes its name from Jaffna , the most important city in northern Sri Lanka.

The Jaffna Peninsula is in front of the main island to the north. Including inland waters, it has an area of ​​1,014 square kilometers, its largest extension from northwest to southeast is around 80 kilometers. The Jaffna Peninsula is separated from the main island by the Jaffna Lagoon and the Chundikkulam Lagoon . The only drivable land connection is an artificial dam at the narrowest point, the elephant pass ; in addition, spits connect the peninsula with the east coast of the main island. In the north, the Jaffna Peninsula borders the Bay of Bengal, to the west is a group of islands. A system of lagoons and salt pans inside divides the Jaffna Peninsula into three parts: The western part, which is delimited by the Uppu-Aru lagoon , is called Valikamam . The eastern part of the Jaffna Peninsula is divided by the Vadamarachchi lagoon into a northern part, called Vadamarachchi , facing the Bay of Bengal , and a southern part, thenmarachchi , facing the Jaffna lagoon .

The terrain of the Jaffna Peninsula is very flat and averages around twelve meters above sea level. The bedrock consists of Miocene limestone , which is well suited to conduct groundwater . Groundwater formation occurs through infiltration of seasonal rainfalls: more than two thirds of the annual precipitation of around 1,300 millimeters falls during the northeast monsoon between October and December. Because of the lack of rivers on the Jaffna Peninsula, water needs must be met entirely by wells. Due to the increasing water abstraction, however, the groundwater threatens to become too saline.

Administratively, most of the Jaffna Peninsula belongs to the Jaffna District , and a smaller part north of the Elephant Pass to the Kilinochchi District . Around 550,000 people live on the Jaffna Peninsula (as of 2012). This makes the Jaffna Peninsula by far the most densely populated area in the Northern Province. The largest city and economic center of the Jaffna Peninsula is Jaffna, located in the west of the peninsula. Other significant settlements are Chavakachcheri east of Jaffna and Kankesanturai and Point Pedro on the north coast.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ L. Rajasooriyar, V. Mathavan, HA Dharmagunawardhane & V. Nandakumar: "Ground Water Quality in the Valigamam region of the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka", in: (ed.) KM Hiscock, MO Rivett & RM Davidson: Sustainable Groundwater Development , London: The Geological Society of London, 2002, pp. 181-197.
  2. ↑ Total population of the divisions Jaffna, Nallur, Thenmarachchi, Vadamarachchi East, Vadamarachchi North, Vadamarachchi South-West, Valikamam East, Valikamam North, Valikamam South, Valikamam South-West and Valikamam West from the Jaffna district and the Pachchilaipalli division from the Kilinoch district according to the 2012 census, see Department of Census and Statistics: Population by sex, agrees and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012.

literature

  • Elsie K. Cook: A Geography of Ceylon. Madras: Macmillanm, 1931.