Gulf of Kutch

The Gulf of Kutch is a large bay in the Arabian Sea, on the west coast of India. It lies in the Indian state of Gujarat. The gulf is about 180 kilometres (110 mi) long, and 65 kilometres (40 mi) wide. The Gulf of Kutch is important: 41 percent of imports and exports are done through this waterway.

The area is renowned for extreme daily tides which often cover the lower lying areas – comprising networks of creeks, wetlands and alluvial tidal flats in the interior region. The Gulf of Kutch has several ports including Okha (at the entrance of the gulf), Māndvi, Bedi, and Kandla. Kandla, visible on the northern peninsula in the left of the image, is one of the largest ports in India by volume of cargo handled.

The gulf is rich in marine biodiversity. Part of the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch was declared Marine Sanctuary and Marine National Park  in 1980 and 1982 respectively – the first marine conservatory established in India. The park covers an area of around 270 sq km, from Okha in the south (not visible) to Jodiya. There are hundreds of species of coral in the park, as well as algae, sponges and mangroves.