Azheekal Beach
Beach and fishing harbour in Kollam district, Kerala, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Azheekal Beach is a coastal landform on the Arabian Sea in the Karunagappally Taluk of Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is at the northern end of the Alappad peninsula, a land strip separating the sea from the T. S. Canal. The area is a site for the Azheekal Fishing Harbour and is a center for the regional fishing industry.[1] Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the beach was identified as a high-vulnerability zone. Modern environmental research focuses on the area due to coastal erosion and the impact of mineral sand mining.[2]
Azheekal Beach
Azheekkal Beach | |
|---|---|
Beach | |
Azheekkal Beach | |
  Azheekal Beach | |
| Coordinates: 9°07′55.9164″N 76°27′49.9392″E | |
| Location | Azheekal, Oachira (via Karunagappally Taluk), Kollam, Kerala |
| Range | Alappad peninsula |
| Part of | Arabian Sea |
| Offshore water bodies | T. S. Canal (to the east) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 660 m [1] |
| Hazard rating | Low |
| Nearest Transport | Karunagappally  - 17 kmOachira - 9 kmTrivandrum Airport  - 110 km |
Location and Geography
It is located on the Alappad peninsula, which measures less than 50 meters wide at several points between the Arabian Sea and the National Waterway 3 T. S. Canal[3] The beach is 12 km (7.5 mi) from Kayamkulam and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Karunagappally. Azheekal Beach is approximately 660 meters long.[1]
Fishing industry
The local economy is centered on the Azheekal Fishing Harbour. It supports a fleet of about 180 motorized boats, mostly under 15 HP, which use monofilament gillnets.[4] The harbour is a landing and distribution point for the Kollam district fisheries sector, which directly employs an estimated 100,000 workers.[4]
Environmental change and mining
Data indicates a reduction in the Alappad peninsula's surface area. Lithographic maps from 1955 recorded the village area at 89.5 square kilometers; by 2018, the area was measured at 8.9 square kilometers.[5] Between 1973 and 2020, 59.24% of the coastline underwent erosion.[6]
Local residents attribute this land loss to mineral sand mining by public sector units, including Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) and Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML)[2] These entities extract minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, and zircon from reserves estimated at 127 million tonnes. Research suggests mining contributes to saline water intrusion into local groundwater aquifers.[7]
2004 tsunami impact
Azheekal and Alappad recorded between 132 and 149 deaths during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami[8] The village lost 2,194 houses, and another 3,000 were damaged.[9] Research indicates the narrow geography and loss of natural sand barriers increased the vulnerability of residential zones to the waves. Long-term studies identified rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors cited in assessments conducted a decade later.[10]
Tourism and demographics
The beach is a site for domestic tourism and features a seaward pier. Activities include swimming and small-scale boating. Agencies maintain a low hazard rating for the area under standard weather conditions.[11][12]
The population primarily consists of traditional fishing castes, including the Hindu Dheevara and Araya communities. Other groups include Latin Catholics and members of the Ezhava community.[13]
