a volcanic canyon, 3000 m to 1 m slope

Rama Setu: many perspectivesS. Kalyanaraman, Ph.D.,Director, Sarasvati Research Centre,Former Sr. Exec., Asian Development Bank,Date1Perspectivesscientificoceanography (tsunami)historical, cartographicliteraryarchaeological, heritagegeopoliticalsociety, environmentreligious, culturalproject, nauticallegalDate2Scientific perspectivesDate3Computer simulation: Ram Setu saved coastline from tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004Date4A volcanic canyon west of Rama Setu, 1 m to 3000 m slopeLocation map. Inset: bathymetry map of the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from Murty et al., 1994) http:/www.Setusamudram.in/htmdocs/Articles/cp_rajendran_2.htmDate5Canyon below the ocean?Question of stability of any channel on this slope. Abstract Two suites of slumps from opposite margins of the Gulf of Mannar, between Sri Lanka and southern India, have met and coalesced. The “Eastern Comorin” Slump is the more coherent of the two with a length of 70 to 100 km. The “Colombo” side slump consists of two to four blocks 15 to 35 km in length. Both slump-suites decrease to the south. A paleoslump underlies the western toe of the East Comorin Slump at a depth of some 800 meters. To the south, an enlarging and deepening submarine canyon marks the area of slump coalescence. See William Vestal and Allen Lowrie, Geology and Geophysics Branch-Code 7220, U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office NSTL Station, 39522, MS /content/m602j3k746342lnl/ Date6Heatflow in Rama Setu 100 to 180 milliwatt per sq. m. comparable to Himalayan hotspringsWill dredging in the area activate these heat zones? This question has to be answered by a multi-disciplinary team. Date7Mannar Volcanic rocks 100 m. old in Gulf of Mannar, making Rama Setu an ancient formationDate8Bore-hole locations on Rama Setu Geomorphology Consequences of dredging and opening of Rama Setu: Likely destruction of fragile coral islands by sediments and turbulent tides of Bay of Bengal entering the tranquil Gulf of Mannar Likely reactivation of sub-sea heatflows Alternatives: Realign canal towards Pamban; like Panama Canal, locks could be provided both in the Palk bay side and Gulf of Mannar side so that such calamities could be prevented. Provide for tsunami-protection wallsSource: Former Directors, Geological Survey of India: Dr. S. Badrinarayanan Dr. K. GopalakrishnanDate9Valmiki ramayana, Sarga 21, YuddhakandamDescribes Ramas victory over the ocean; he releases the arrow which makes a volcano erupt, resulting in a tsunami.This episode is validated by the heatflow map of Bharatam in the Rama Setu region.Date10Geological, archaeological evidence: Dept. of Earth Sciences (March 2007) Since the calcareous sand stones and Corals are less dense than normal hard rock and quite compact, probably these were used by the ancients to form a connecting link to Sri Lanka, on the higher elevations of the Adams bridge ridge and this is analogous to modern day causeway. Around Rameswaram, there are raised Teri formations that supported a rich assemblage of mesolithic microlithic tools indicating the presence of strong human habitation and activity in these areas as early as 8000 to 9000 years B.P and as recent as 4000 years B.P. On Sri Lanka side there are indications of human habitation extending to late Pleistocene (about 13,000 B.P) based on bone and fossils of human and animal form. All these point to a flourishing human activity on both sides of Adams Bridge and probably when the sea levels were just right the link between India and Sri Lanka could have been established.Date11 More than 35 photographs were taken by NASA Astronauts and Russian Cosmonautsduring following period NASAs Gemini XI Spacecraft in 1966 8 NASA Space Shuttle Missions 1983-1994STS 6, 30, 33, 38, 44, 51, 51-B, 59 International Space Station 2002-2005Expedition 6 24.11.2002 - 04.05.2003 Expedition 10 13.10.2004 - 24.04.2005)Image Credits: NASA Johnson Space Center Earth Sciences and Image Analysis (NASA-JSC-ES even a stone or a cave or a river is a monument under the 1958 Act.Madras HC in their order on 19 June 2007 confirmed the reality of Rama Setu as a bridge and as a monument, citing petitioners evidences; the court also asked why an alignment which does not touch Rama Setu cannot be chosen.From Setu to Himachalam defines the sovereign Bharatam according to the Suvey of India logo since 1767.Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, Section 2 (d) “archaeological site and remains“ means any area which contains or is reasonably believed to contain ruins or relics of historical or archaeological importance which have been in existence for not less than one hundred years Section 2 (a) (a) “ancient monument“ means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years Suggestio falsi, suppressio veri: Ambika SoniNew Delhi, Mar 06, 2007: Government on Tuesday said there are no archaeological studies that reveal the existence of a Ram Setu bridge between India and Sri Lanka. However, a NASA satellite picture has shown the existence of a stretch of land bridge in the Palk Strait between the countries, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today. She informed the house that as there are no archaeological studies to confirm the fact, the government was not planning to take any preservation initiative in this direction. /articles.asp?aid=358346 but when covered has now here above three or four feet of water”Source: Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency./C.D. Maclean (1903). New Delhi, AES, 3 Vols., 2440 p., Contents: Vol. 1: Chapters 1-9 Containing: The Principal Articles of the Manual Arranged so as to Conform to the Order of Subjects in the Yearly Presidency Administration Report. Vol. 2: Appendices Containing: Articles and Statements, Supplementary of the Articles in Vol. 1 Arranged Under General Heads. Vol. 3: Glossary of the Madras Presidency: A Classification of Terminology, a Gazetteer and Economic Dictionary of the Province and Other Information, the Whole Arranged Alphabetically and Indexed.TravelogueA book by Alexander Hamilton, 1744, A New Account of the East Indies: Giving an Exact and Copious Description of the Situation, P. 338 describes his visit to zeloan (alt. spelling for Ceylon) by walking on the bridge.Date28Research reportAsiatic Society, 1799, Asiatick Researches: Or, Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal, P. 52 refers to the bridge called Setband (alt. spelling, setuband like Allahband; setu-bandha), broken in 3 places. It also notes “The people call it a bridge; or otherwise it appears to have wood growing on it, and to be inhabited.”Date29Honble Mu. Karunanidhi cites evidence for Rama Setu, there is also evidence from Sangam literature In a book titled, Ramanathapuram District Gazetteer published in 1972, Mu. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister writes a foreword and praises the contents The book refers to Rama Setu (also called Adams bridge or Nala Setu). Evidence from Sangam literature 1.kadunter iraaman udanpun.ar seetaiyaivalittakai arakkan vavviya jnaanr-ainilamcer madaran.i kan.d.a