Vadamarachchi Lagoon

Vadamarachchi lagoon (Tamil: வடமராட்சி கடல்நீரேரி) is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Thondamannar lagoon. The lagoon separates the Vadamarachchi region from the Valikamam and Thenmarachchi regions.

Vadamarachchi lagoon
Vadamarachchi lagoon Show map of Northern Province Vadamarachchi lagoon Show map of Sri Lanka
Location	Jaffna District, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	9°42′N 80°18′E
Type	Lagoon
Native name	வடமராட்சி கடல்நீரேரி
Primary outflows	Indian Ocean
Surface area	77.87 square kilometres (30.07 sq mi)
Max. depth	2 metres (6.6 ft)
Surface elevation	Sea level

The lagoon is connected to the Indian Ocean by a narrow channel to the north, near the town of Thondamannar. The lagoon's water is brackish to saline. There is a sluice gate at Thondamannar to prevent sea water entering the lagoon.[1]

The lagoon is surrounded by a densely populated region containing palmyra palms, coconut palm, grassland, rice paddies, arid scrubland and open forest.

The lagoon has extensive mudflats, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps, particularly Avicennia. The lagoon attracts a wide variety of water birds including American flamingoes, ducks, gulls, terns and other shorebirds.