| Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Location in Tamil Nadu, India  Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (India) | |
| Location | Coastal regions of Thoothukkudi and Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nearest city | Rameswaram |
| Coordinates | 09°08′15″N 79°28′21″E / 9.13750°N 79.47250°E |
| Area | 560 km2 (220 sq mi) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | Tamil Nadu Ministry of Environment and Forests |
| forests | |
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a protected area of India consisting of 21 small islands (islets) and adjacent coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. It lies 1 to 10 km away from the east coast of Tamil Nadu, India for 160 km between Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) and Dhanushkodi. It is the core area of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve which includes a 10 km buffer zone around the park, including the populated coastal area.[1] The park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its marine, intertidal and near shore habitats. Public access inside the park is limited to glass-bottom boat rides.[2] It was established as a National Park in 1986.[3]
- ^ UNDP (1994). "Conservation and Sustainable-use of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve's Coastal Biodiversity" (PDF). UNDP, Project Brief, New York. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ Shaunak B Modi (2011). "Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park - Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. (GOMNP)". Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ Madhav, Sughosh; Nazneen, Sadaf; Singh, Pardeep, eds. (2021). Coastal ecosystems : environmental importance, current challenges and conservation measures. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. p. 15.