Adyar River Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Adyar
Adyar in Chennai
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
City	Chennai (Madras)
Physical characteristics
Main source	Adanur Tank Manimangalam village, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India
River mouth	Adyar estuary Tamil Nadu, India
Length	26 mi (42 km)
Basin features
Basin size	204 sq mi (530 km²)

The Adyar River (sometimes called Adayar) is an important river in India. It starts near Chembarambakkam Lake in the Kanchipuram district. This river flows through the big city of Chennai (Madras) in Tamil Nadu. Finally, it reaches the Bay of Bengal at a place called the Adyar Estuary.

The Adyar River is about 42.5 kilometers (26 miles) long. It helps create a special natural area called an estuary in Chennai. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and the water is a mix of fresh and salty. Near where the river meets the sea, it forms a calm area called the Adyar Creek. This happens because sand builds up at the river's mouth, creating a natural barrier. The creek is like a natural path that carries ocean water back and forth with the tides.

Mouth of Adyar river

Even though the river has some pollution, people still enjoy boating and fishing here. The estuary is a great spot for many different kinds of birds. In 1987, it became a protected wildlife reserve. The southern part of the estuary has been a safe place for migratory and local birds for many years. The Adyar creek is also a good place for young fish to grow. This is because the water is not too salty, there are safe places to hide, and lots of tiny plants and animals for them to eat.

The River's Journey
Challenges and Cleanup
Images for kids
See also

The River's Journey

The Adyar River collects extra water from many places. It gets water from about 200 tanks and lakes. It also gathers water from small streams and rainwater drains in the city. The total area that drains into this river is about 331 square miles (857 square kilometers). Much of the city's used water flows into the Adyar River and the Cooum River.

Challenges and Cleanup

The river usually flows very slowly, almost standing still. It only flows fast during the rainy season. Over time, more factories and buildings have been built near the river. This has caused the river to become quite polluted.

Despite the pollution, people still use the river for boating and fishing. In 2012, the government of Tamil Nadu decided to help clean up the waterways in Chennai. They set aside 3,000 million INR (Indian Rupees) for this project. This money was used to build 337 systems to clean sewage from the water. Forty-nine of these systems were placed along the Adyar River. Other systems were put in the Cooum River and the Buckingham Canal.