A Coastal wetland of Natural origin located in the Dry Zone of the Eastern province. It is a shallow, brackish water lagoon with some fringing mangroves and extensive marshy areas to the north. The lagoon is located in Arugam Bay , and the coastline in the area contains sand dunes, headlands and broad barrier beaches. It is connected to the sea by a narrow channel and is seasonally tidal. Much of the area has been altered for human use, either for agriculture, human settlements, or tourism development. Arugam Bay is situated in the low country dry zone, where the temperature can vary from 180C on rainy nights to 380C during the day in drier months, with a mean average annual temperature of 27.40C.The area receives about 700 ? 1,700 mm of rainfall per year with 60% falling during the northeast monsoons between October to February. Most of the province has a dry spell of three months with fairly dry conditions prevailing between May-September. Salinity within the lagoon varies seasonally and can be over 30 ppt at times. Winds are generally moderate, ranging from 7?15 km per hour with stronger winds during the evening. It is an important habitat for large numbers of water birds including migratory ducks, shorebirds, gulls and terns, and the lagoon is also important for prawn fisheries. Surrounding areas also have extensive rice fields. The area is a popular tourist destination, and is well known among surfers for the waves off the nearby beaches. Pollution, unplanned development and sand mining are threatening the lagoon and adjacent natural ecosystems.

Arugam Lagoon Related references