Pichavaram mangroves
From Freepedia
Pichavaram is located 51 km north east of Chidambaram, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, between latitude 11°20' to 11°30' north and longitudes 79°45' to 79°55' east. It is an estuarine type of mangrove situated at the confluence of Uppanar, a tributary of the Coleroon River. Fishing villages, croplands, and Aquaculture ponds surrounds the area. This mangrove environment is attracting large number of tourists.
The Pichavaram mangrove wetland has 51 islets and the total area of the Vellar-Pichavaram-Coleroon estuarine complex is 23.355 km² of which only 2.41 km² is occupied by dense mangrove vegetation. Nearly 5.93 km² of this wetland is occupied by helophytic vegetation like Suaeda, 2.625 km² barren mud flats and 12.385 km² barren high saline soil out of the 23.355 km² of this mangrove wetland only 11.00 km². Comprising the entire mangrove vegetation located in the middle portion of the Vellar-Pichavaram-Coleroon wetland has been declared as a reserved forest. Department of Forest, Government of Tamil Nadu, declared the Pichavaram mangrove as a Reserved Forest.
Two major rivers namely Vellar River and Coleroon River in this area drained into Bay of Bengal. The area between the two rivers is identified as brackish water with mangrove vegetation. The area is covered by alluvium in the western part and fluvial marine and beach sands cover eastern part of the area. Geomorphology of area is major area is covered by flood plain, sedimentary plain and beach sand. Major portion of the area falls under nearly level sloping category. During the nine year period from 1990 to 1999 the maximum rainfall of 1844 mm was recorded in 1990 and minimum rainfall of 875 mm was recorded in 1996. The soil group of the area is Hydrological soil group `C' (USDA) low infiltration and moderate runoff potential found 50% area. The soil group `B' with moderate runoff is covering about 45% areas. The remaining 5% area is occupied by soil group `A' with high infiltration low runoff potential. Hence, this study envisages to understanding the overall changes in the wetland ecosystem of
