The Gulf of Martaban, additionally known as the Gulf of Mottama, is an arm of the Andaman Sea mendacity within the southern a part of Burma or Myanmar. It is called after town of Mottama, which was earlier known as Martaban.
1. How was the Gulf of Martaban shaped?
The formation of the Gulf of Martaban was a posh and dynamic course of that concerned many geological elements, a few of that are mentioned beneath.
The most essential was the tectonic plate motion within the area. The Indian and Eurasian Plates have been transferring shut to one another for tens of millions of years. Their convergence led to the subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate alongside the Sunda Trench that lies to the west of the Gulf of Martaban.
The subduction created an uplift of land and gave delivery to the mountain ranges in Myanmar. It additionally shaped the Sunda or Andaman Trench alongside the western aspect of the Gulf of Martaban.
These processes occurring within the area gave delivery to the Gulf of Martaban and formed its topography. Also, rivers flowing from Myanmar’s japanese highlands into the Gulf of Martaban take large quantities of sediments, depositing them within the Gulf, forming coastal plains and delta areas.
Also, adjustments within the sea stage have performed a significant position in shaping the shoreline of the Martaban Gulf. Erosion by winds and tides and coastal options like seashores, sandbars and estuaries alongside the Gulf of Martaban are continually evolving attributable to these processes.
2. Where does the Gulf of Martaban lie?
The Gulf of Martaban is situated alongside the southern coast of Myanmar, between the western shores of the Malay Peninsula and the southern a part of Myanmar’s shoreline.
The Gulf of Martaban covers roughly 23,000 sq. kilometres or 8880 sq. miles. It is round 150-200 km broad at its mouth and extends inland for round 100 km or 62 miles.
3. Many essential cities located alongside its coast
Several well-known cities lie near the Martaban Gulf. Mawlamyine, earlier known as Moulmein, is the 4th greatest metropolis within the nation, mendacity 300 km southeast of Yangon and 70 km south of Thaton, on the mouth of the Salween River. It is an historical metropolis that was the primary capital of British-occupied Burma. Presently, it’s the capital and largest metropolis of Mon State and in addition the primary buying and selling centre within the southeastern a part of the nation.
Pathein, or Bassein, is the largest metropolis and capital of the Ayeyarwady area, mendacity 190 km west of Yangon. It was as soon as a big a part of the Mon Kingdom however now has only a few ethnic Mon residents. The majority of its inhabitants are Karen, Burmese Indian, Rakhine and Burmese-Chinese.
Yangon is the most important metropolis in Myanmar and in addition its most populous metropolis and business hub. It boasts quite a few colonial-era buildings and the favored colonial-era city core centred round Sule Pagoda, which is greater than 2000 years outdated. It can also be a extensively visited vacationer vacation spot in Myanmar, well-known for its Shwedagon Pagoda, essentially the most sacred Buddhist Pagoda in Myanmar.
4. Gulf of Martaban is fed by Sittaung, Salveen and Yangon Rivers
The Sittaung River flows in south-central Myanmar, and its basin is separated from Irrawaddy by the Pegu Range. It originates from Shan Hills and flows southward to the Martaban Gulf. It is 420 km lengthy and discharges 50 cubic km of water per yr. It is used to hold timber south for export.
Salween River is 3289 km lengthy and flows from Tibetan Plateau into the Andaman Sea. It flows inside southwestern China and japanese Myanmar. In its course, it goes by way of the rugged canyons, and regardless of being so lengthy, solely its final 90 km is navigable when it varieties an estuary and delta at Mawlamyine.
It is thought by varied names, resembling Thanlwin in Myanmar and Nu Jiang in China. It known as Salween as nicely, an anglicisation of its Burmese identify going again to the nineteenth century.
Yangon River, often known as the Rangoon River or Hlaing River, is created by the confluence of the Pegu and Myitmaka Rivers in Myanmar. It is an estuary going from Yangon to Martaban Gulf of the Andaman Sea. It is navigable for large ships and performs an essential position in Myanmar’s maritime commerce and economic system.
Twante Canal hyperlinks the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta, as soon as known as ‘the rice bowl of Asia’. It had 1000 sq miles of teak plantations and mangroves, most of which have been cleared for producing rice.
5. Martaban Gulf has coastal plains and fertile deltas
The Gulf of Martaban has in depth plains and deltas shaped by the deposition of sediments by rivers. The Irawaddy or Ayeyarwaddy is essentially the most outstanding delta and a very powerful agricultural space in Myanmar. It is densely populated and performs a significant position in rice cultivation.
Its wealthy alluvial soil is 3 m above sea stage, and it additionally helps fishing communities who stay across the area considerable with rivers and streams.
Since the area is economically vital, its street infrastructure was developed in the course of the Nineteen Nineties-2000s. Fishing is one other exercise carried out right here by way of fishing frames and small boats.
Other actions embrace prawn fishery and harvesting sea turtle eggs, each of that are threatened because of the lack of mangroves and the clearing of land for farming. Transportation by way of the delta is best by waterways. Hence virtually all households have a ship, and the primary cities alongside it, like Bogale, Mawlamyinegyun and Myaungmya, are related by steamer companies.
6. Has a singular estuarine mudflat atmosphere supporting various marine life
The coastal and marine waters of the Martaban Gulf are residence to various natural world. The Eden’s or Sittang whale, smaller than different whales, is restricted to Indo-Pacific and was discovered within the Gulf’s waters.
The distinctive mudflat atmosphere created by the deposition of sediment by rivers hosts over 150,000 migratory birds which arrive right here in winter, together with half of the world’s inhabitants of Spoon-billed Sandpiper, a critically endangered species.
The mudflats are additionally wealthy in mussels, worms, shrimp, crabs, crustaceans and different species which are excellent meals for these birds. Due to its various ecosystem, part of the Gulf was declared a Wetland of International Importance in 2017. The Gulf’s waters even have seagrasses, algae, reef fish and pelagic fish.
7. Serves as a pure gateway for ships coming to Southeast Asia
The Gulf of Martaban features as a pure maritime gateway for vessels plying between the Indian Ocean and the international locations in Southeast Asia like Thailand and Malaysia. It is residence to many essential ports and harbours and facilitates the motion of products, uncooked supplies and vitality sources.
The Gulf of Martaban additionally helps the regional economic system, notably of Myanmar, by enabling the handy export of rice, minerals, timber, pure gasoline and many others. It has additionally enhanced regional connectivity and commerce inside ASEAN and different neighbouring international locations.
8. Home to essential ports and harbour amenities
The Gulf of Martaban has many ports, like Yangon, which can also be the most important metropolis and former capital of Myanmar. It is a vital maritime hub and the primary port of the nation, mendacity on the confluence of the Yangon River, Pazaundaung Creek and Pegu River.
It has greater than 30 berths for oceangoing ships and amenities for oil, coal and common cargo. Rice is dealt with in large portions by way of a bag-loading conveyor system.
The port has specialised areas for various cargo just like the Hteedan Wharf, Ahlone Wharf, Myanmar Industrial Port Wharf, Sule Pagoda Wharf, Bo Aung Gyaw Wharf, Botataung Container Port Thaketa Wharf, Myanmar Integrate Ports Limited and Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa.
Approximately 188,900 tonnes of cargo and 500 vessels are dealt with yearly.
Another essential port is Moulmein, previously generally known as Mawlamyine. It is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Martaban.
Moulmein has berths for coastal cargoes and lighterage amenities for deep-sea ships. Major exports are rice, rubber and timber, whereas imports comprise {hardware}.
Approx 100 passenger ships and 60 tankers go to the port yearly.
9. Gulf of Martaban experiences excessive tides and tidal bore phenomenon
A attribute characteristic of the Gulf of Martaban is its shoreline, dominated by excessive tides ranging between 4 metres and seven metres. The highest tidal vary is recorded at Elephant Point within the western Gulf of Martaban.
The phenomenon happens because of the gulf’s mouth, which is 100 km broad and narrows down right into a funnel-like bay, giving rise to the sturdy tides reaching greater than a metre within the higher estuary. Hence, the tidal mudflats of Martaban Gulf are among the many greatest on this planet.
During the spring tide, the tidal vary is about 6.6 m; the turbid zone covers over 45,000 km2, making it one of many greatest perennially turbid zones of the world’s oceans.
The 4 massive rivers, particularly Sittaung, Thanlwin, Yangon, and Ayeyarwady, take about 350 million tons of sediment into the Gulf yearly. As the rivers movement into the Gulf, sturdy tides can push water backwards into the rivers at 3 m per second, forming a tidal bore that’s so sturdy it quickly reverses the movement of the river.
The resultant waves as excessive as 7 m are instruments of abrasion. The phenomenon alters the rivers’ course, tears down banks, varieties one other and so forth. However, a lot land has been misplaced alongside the Gulf of Martaban, and the method has sped up since 2016, resulting in the lack of 12 villages by 2018, displacing small-scale farmers and fishermen who rely on the Gulf for his or her livelihood.
10. Significant Oil Reserves had been discovered within the Gulf of Martaban in 2008
The discovery of oil within the Gulf of Martaban was a turning level within the nation’s oil business and garnered the eye of main oil firms. Since 2014, it has been a website of oil exploration beneath the Zawtika Development venture that focuses on the M7, M9 and M11 blocks within the Gulf of Martaban.
It includes the exploration and extraction of oil and pure gasoline within the aforementioned offshore blocks. Operated by PTTEP International Limited, it features a consortium of American, British, French, Chinese, Indonesian and Indian oil and development corporations.
The oil exploration actions listed here are primarily offshore. These actions have led to infrastructural developments in Myanmar and in addition generated a brand new income supply and employment alternatives.
- 12 Gulf Of Mannar Facts You Might Not Know
- 10 Celtic Sea Facts You Should Know
- 9 Interesting West Philippine Sea Facts You Must Know
- 13 Gulf Of Riga Facts You Must Know
- 12 Major Gulf Of Bothnia Facts
Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed on this article don’t essentially replicate the views of Marine-Salvage. Data and charts, if used within the article, have been sourced from accessible data and haven’t been authenticated by any statutory authority. The writer and Marine-Salvage don’t declare it to be correct nor settle for any duty for a similar. The views represent solely the opinions and don’t represent any tips or suggestions on any plan of action to be adopted by the reader.
The article or pictures can’t be reproduced, copied, shared or utilized in any type with out the permission of the writer and Marine-Salvage.
Get the Latest Maritime News Delivered to Your Inbox!
Our free, quick, and enjoyable publication on the worldwide maritime business, delivered on a regular basis.
About Author
Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid author, possessing immaculate analysis and enhancing expertise. Author of a number of tutorial papers, she has additionally labored as a contract author, producing many technical, artistic and advertising and marketing items. A real aesthete at coronary heart, she loves books a little bit greater than anything.
