Home » TamilNadu Districts » Chennai » Geographical and Physical Features
Chennai - Geographical and Physical Features
Canals in Chennai
The Buckingham canal which runs through the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is a navigation canal. This canal runs almost parallel to the Coromandal coast within the limits of 5 kms. from the coast. It joins up a series of natural backwaters and connects all the coastal districts from Guntur to South Arcot. Entering the city at Tondiarpet in the north and running along the western outskirts of George Town, it joins the new canal, south-west of General Hospital. The other canal worth mentioning in the city is the Otteri Nullah which commences from the village Mullam, runs eastwards upto Purasawalkam and then passes through Buckingham and Carnatic Mills and finally joins the Buckingham Canal, north of Basin Bridge Railway Station.
Chennai has 25.60 kms. of sea coast which is flat and sandy for about a km. from the shore. The bed of the sea is about 42' deep and slopes further in gradual stages for a distance of about 5 kms. from the coast attaining a depth of about 63'. The two principal currents, first from the north and second from the south flow parallel to the coast. The former sets in about the middle of October and continue till February while the latter starts by about August and continues till the burst of the north-east monsoon in the middle of October. These two principal currents must be caused by the winds.
The Adyar River, originating from the Chembarambakkam Lake, is one of the rivers which passes through Chennai, South India, and joins the Bay of Bengal. Boating and Fishing was once going on in this river but nowadays due to pollution, they are not possible. Most of the wastes of the city is drained into this river and Cooum River. Basin Bridge is the confluence of the Otteri Nullah and Buckingham Canal in Chennai, India. The Madras Boating Club operates rowing events in this place. Basin Bridge is also a station on the Chennai suburban railway. It is the first station after Chennai Central. At this station, the line divides into three: one going towards Avadi and Arakkonam, the other towards Ennore and Gummidipoondi, and the third towards Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore.
The Buckingham Canal is a 420 km long salt water navigation canal, running parallel to the Coromandel Coast of South India from the Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh to Villupuram District in Tamil Nadu. The canal connects most of the natural backwaters along the coast to the port of Chennai (Madras). It was constructed by the British Raj, and was an important waterway during the late nineteenth and the twentieth century.
Chembarambakkam Lake is located in Chengalpattu district, about 40 km from Chennai, South India. The Adyar River originates from this lake. Cooum or Kuvam is one of the 2 "rivers" of Chennai, India, the other one being the Adyar River. The name of Cooum appears to be derived from Tamil Literature. The word “coovalan” denotes a person who is well versed in the science of hydrology. It is likely, that the River Cooum might have derived its name from such a usage.
The Guindy National Park, the smallest national park of India, and one of the very few national parks situated inside a metro, is located in Chennai, South India. The Red Hills Lake, located in Ambattur taluka of Thiruvallur district, Tamilnadu, South India, is one of the rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai. This lake is also called Puzhal Lake. Sholavaram Lake, located in Ponneri taluka of Thiruvallur district, Tamilnadu, South India, is one of the rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai. Veeranam Lake is located in Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu, South India. The lake located 235 km away from Chennai, India, is one of the water reservoirs from where water is planned to be supplied to Chennai. Ironically the lake remains dry for a major part of the year.
Chennai - Geographical and Physical Features
Home » TamilNadu Districts » Chennai » Geographical and Physical Features
