Adams Bridge is identified as Ram Setu by Indians. It is a limestone bridge between Mannar in Sri Lanka and Rameswaran or Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. Now the ISRO scientists revealed the secret of Ram Setu itself. Researchers at ISRO’s Jodhpur and Hyderabad National Remote Sensing Centers mapped the submerged part of the Ram Setu using NASA’s ICSAT-2 satellite.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
A 10m resolution map of the entire length of the submerged portion of the Ram Setu was created using the satellite data from October 2018 to October 2023.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
What Lies Beneath the Sea?
Indians recognize Adam’s Bridge as Ram Setu, a limestone formation connecting Mannar in Sri Lanka to Rameswaram or Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu. Recently, scientists from ISRO have unveiled new insights about this structure. Using data from NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite, researchers at ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centers in Jodhpur and Hyderabad mapped the submerged sections of Ram Setu.
A high-resolution, 10-meter map of Ram Setu’s entire submerged length was developed from satellite data spanning October 2018 to October 2023.
Ramayana and Ram Setu
The Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic, narrates that Lord Rama, aided by an army of monkeys, constructed this bridge to reach Sri Lanka (then Lanka). Despite this mythological origin, many believe that Ram Setu is a natural formation. But what have ISRO’s findings revealed?
Geological Evidence
Geological studies suggest that Ram Setu was once a land bridge linking India and Sri Lanka. Persian sailors in the 9th century BC referred to it as ‘Setu Bandhai,’ meaning a bridge over the sea. Records from Rameswaram temples indicate that the bridge was above sea level until a cyclone submerged it in 1480.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
ISRO’s Findings
The research team, led by Giribabu Dandabathula, discovered a diagonal slope anomaly on both sides of Ram Setu, indicating that the waters of the Gulf of Mannar possess greater material strength compared to the Palk Strait. Scientists found that approximately 99.98% of Ram Setu is submerged, with only 0.02% visible above the ocean. They also identified 11 narrow water channels along the structure, which allow water flow between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, protecting Ram Setu from sea waves.
Using ICESat-2’s green laser, which can detect seabeds up to 40 meters deep, scientists gathered depth information. Their research confirmed that Ram Setu is a natural land formation extending underwater from Dhanushkodi in India to Talaimannar Island in Sri Lanka.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
Scientific Confirmation
In their report, ISRO scientists stated, “Ram Setu is a submerged land continuation of Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar islands. We have confirmed this through research. A deep chasm has suddenly formed in the very deep water of this bridge.”
The 11 narrow channels identified along the structure facilitate water flow between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, thereby safeguarding the bridge from erosion by sea waves.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
ISRO’s research provides a scientific basis for understanding Ram Setu, revealing it as a naturally formed, submerged land bridge. This discovery not only enriches the historical narrative surrounding the structure but also showcases the power of modern satellite technology in uncovering the mysteries beneath our oceans.
Video – https://youtu.be/J76ZKBFDxwc
