Delft Island

Delft Island Latest News

The Sri Lanka Navy recently rescued 11 Indian fishermen after their trawler ran aground off Delft Island.

About Delft Island

• Delft Island, also known as Neduntheevu, is located in the Palk Strait off the northern coast of Sri Lanka 
• It lies south-southwest of the Jaffna peninsula.
• It is the biggest of the seven inhabitable islands in the region.  
• The island’s area is 50 sq.km. Its length is 8 km, and its maximum width is about 6 km.
• A unique feature of this island is that it is flat and oval-shaped and is wind-swept at almost all times, which makes the place very soothing.
• It is surrounded by shallow waters and beaches of coral chunks and sand.
• There are no streams on the island. The major source of freshwater is surface water, which is collected in natural depressions and artificial ponds.
• On the island there are varied kinds of dry shrubs and semi-arid tropical plants. This island also has tall palm trees, which add to the overall beachy feel of the island. 
• Located by people of Tamil origin, Delft Island has a rich history and heritage from the Chola dynasty, Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial period. 
• Though there are ancient ruins of a temple, what is more evident in Delft Island’s recent history are the ruins of a Dutch colonial fort. 
• It was the Dutch who named the island after the city of Delft in the Netherlands, and the name remains to this day in common usage. 

News: IT

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