Chalai Lagoon

Chalai Lagoon
Location	Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	9°23′N 80°40′E / 9.383°N 80.667°E / 9.383; 80.667Coordinates: 9°23′N 80°40′E / 9.383°N 80.667°E / 9.383; 80.667
Lake type	Lagoon
Primary outflows	Indian Ocean
Surface area	14.6 square kilometres (5.6 sq mi)
Surface elevation	Sea level
Settlements	Chalai Putumattalan Valayanmadam

Chalai Lagoon is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chalai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.

The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers. It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel near Chalai. The lagoon's water is brackish.

The lagoon is surrounded by dense forest, scrubland and some rice paddies. The land is used for fishing and some salt production.

The lagoon has extensive sea grass beds and mangrove swamp. The lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including ducks, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.

References

• S.W. Kotagama, Leonard Pinto and Jayampathi L. Samarakoon. "Sri Lanka". Wetlands International. http://ramsar.wetlands.org/Portals/15/SriLanka.pdf. Retrieved 23 May 2009.