ISRO Scientists Create First Undersea Mapping of Ram Setu Using NASA Satellite

Chennai: Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have successfully mapped the submerged structure of Adam's Bridge, also known as Ram Setu, an ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka mentioned in Indian religious texts. They created the most precise undersea map of Adam’s Bridge proving the submerged ridge as a “continuity” from Dhanushkodi in India to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. The researchers used NASA's ICESat-2 data from October 2018 to October 2023 to generate a 10-meter resolution map of the full length of the submerged ridge, sufficient to capture details of the size of a train coach.

The detailed underwater map reveals the bridge's continuity from Dhanushkodi to Talaimannar, with a staggering 99.98 per cent of it submerged in shallow waters.

ISRO Scientists Used Advanced Laser Technology From US Satellite

According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, ISRO scientists used advanced laser technology from the NASA satellite to create a high-resolution map of the entire length of the submerged ridge. The green laser of the NASA satellite further helped researchers going as much 40 meters deep.

The research team, led by Giribabu Dandabathula, discovered 11 narrow channels that allowed water to flow between the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, playing a crucial role in preserving the structure from sea waves.

The study confirms the origins of Adam's Bridge or Ram Setu, which was once a land connection between India and Sri Lanka. The findings provide new insights into the region's history and the formation of this ancient structure.

History of Adam's Bridge

The submerged structure was named Adam’s Bridge by an East India Company mapper. The structure described by Indians as Ram Setu, is mentioned in the Ramayana as a bridge constructed by Ram’s army to help him reach Sri Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom, to rescue his wife Sita.

Persian navigators in the ninth century AD referred to the bridge as Sethu Bandhai or a bridge over the sea. Temple records from Rameswaram indicate that the bridge was above sea level until 1480 when it was demolished by a powerful storm.

Earlier, satellite observations pointed to an undersea construction. But these observations were primarily focused on exposed sections of the bridge. The sea in the area is extremely shallow, ranging from one to ten meters deep in parts, making navigation and ship mapping of the ridge difficult.