The correct answer is India and Sri Lanka.
The Palk Strait is a narrow maritime passage that separates the southeastern coast of India (the state of Tamil Nadu) from the northern coast of the island nation of Sri Lanka (the Jaffna District).
Key Geographic Features:
- Connecting Waters: The strait connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay in the southwest.
- Dimensions: It has a minimum width of about 53 kilometers (33 miles) and is relatively shallow, with an average depth of less than 9 meters (30 feet). This shallow depth makes it difficult for large commercial ships to navigate.
- Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu): At its southern end, the strait features a chain of low-lying limestone shoals called Adam's Bridge. According to Hindu epic history (the Ramayana), this bridge was built by Lord Rama's army to reach Sri Lanka.
Historical Background:
The strait is named after Robert Palk, a British administrator who served as the Governor of the Madras Presidency during the Company Rule in India in the mid-18th century (1755–1763).
Comparison of the Options:
- India and Indonesia: These two nations are separated by the Great Channel (or Six Degree Channel) near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- India and Sri Lanka: The correct answer; connected closely by historical, cultural, and geographic maritime links.
- Sri Lanka and Maldives: Separated by a massive stretch of the open Indian Ocean with no specific narrow strait between them.
- Pakistan and Iran: These two countries share a land border, while their coastal waters open directly into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
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