QUOTE
Ram Setu"(राम सेतु in Hindi) is a chain of limestone shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of India. The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 3 ft to 30 ft (1 m to 10 m) deep. This seriously hinders navigation. It was reportedly passable on foot up to the 15th century until storms deepened the channel: temple records seem to say that Rama’s Bridge was complete above sea level until it broke in a cyclone in 1480 AD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram_Setu
basically this is where Sri Rama battled Ravan in order to save Sita. it is also the actual birth site of Sri Rama.
UPA led govt wants to drill through this bridge to allow ships to sail through it instead of around sri lanka.
doing so would stir up sediments which will harm coral reefs around the area and also hurt the sentiments of hindus. though it will make it easier for ships to pass through i feel this is too much of an insult. the present bridge also helps protect india and sri lanka against the full force of a tsunami and removing it would allow them to be more powerful.
According to the Hindu epic Ramayana (Chapter 66, The Great Causeway), the bridge was constructed at Rama's request by his allies. The bridge was supported on floating sand rocks but the gods were said to have later anchored the rocks to the sea bed, thus creating the present chain of rocky shoals. It was said to have helped Rama to reach Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king (Asura) called Ravana, who was then the ruler of Lanka.
some say the bridge is a natural phenomenon and not man made. other researchers say it is not a natural formation.
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