Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a detailed map of Ram Setu, also known as Adam's Bridge, with assistance from NASA's ICESat-2 satellite. The map reveals that the pathway is 99.98% submerged in water.
Credit : NASA
According to the optical satellite imagery, the bridge is 29 meters long and 8 meters above the seabed. It spans between Mannar Island, off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram Island in India, with a width of 1.5 km.
The map is of 10-meter resolution and was created after six years of data collection. Advanced laser technology from the ICESat-2 satellite enabled detailed imaging of the bridge underwater.
ICESat-2's green laser allowed for deeper penetration, detecting the seafloor up to 40 meters deep. Researchers acquired around 0.2 million photons from ICESat-2, which provided critical depth information for high-resolution bathymetric data.
Credit : NASA
A team led by Giribabu Dandabathula discovered 11 tiny channels with depths of 2-3 meters using 3-D-derived metrics to estimate the bridge's physiology. This study sheds light on the geological history of Adam’s Bridge.
Ram Setu holds great historical significance in Indian culture, linked to the epic Ramayan, where it is believed to have been built by Lord Ram to reach Lanka (Sri Lanka) to rescue his wife Sita from the demon Ravan.
The bridge was initially above sea level and served as a vital link until 1480 when a powerful storm caused significant damage, submerging the bridge underwater.
The study provides valuable data for future research in marine geophysics and archaeology, enhancing the understanding of the geological history and cultural significance of Ram Setu.