Jaffna Lagoon

The lagoon of Jaffna (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணக் கடல் நீரேரி Yāḻppāṇak Katal nīrēri, English: Jaffna Lagoon, also: Kilali Lagoon ) is a lagoon in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

The lagoon of Jaffna is situated between the main island and the Jaffna peninsula southeast of the city of Jaffna and has an area of about 400 square kilometers. In the west there is a connection to Palkbucht. In the East, an artificially piled dam at Elephant Pass separates the lagoon from Jaffna by the Chundikkulam Lagoon. The lagoon of Jaffna is subject to the tides, the salinity is high. In the west there are extensive tidal flats. The lagoon is covered with seaweed, especially in the southeast it is bordered by mangroves.

At the lagoon of Jaffna srilankaweit the largest population of pink flamingos lives (about 5000 copies). Among the migratory species that have been sighted during the winter of sickle beach runners, the dwarf beach runner, black-tailed godwit, the pintail, wigeon and teal that.

The lagoon of Jaffna is used for salt production and fishing. During the civil war in Sri Lanka (1983-2009) the access to the lagoon for fishing, however, was severely limited.