The total area of the Jaffna peninsula is 1,129.9 sq km of which la goons cover 45.7 sq. km. its dominant geographical feature is a long stretch of water, forming an internal lagoon, which divides the area is flat and most into two The area is that and of low elevating except in northern central part of the western sector, where the elevation rises up to 10.5m above M.S.L. the soil pattern varies from reddish brown soil haste best potential for cultivation of upland crops and fruits, sand dunes are generally found in the north and the south. The low land soil is gray areas bordering the lagoons are covered with saline and alkaline soils.

   Out of the total land area of 98,360 hectares 34.2 i.e 33,732 ha is agricultural land with crops like paddy, vegetables, fruit trees, coconut and Palmyra trees. Buildings and roads cover 21.3 of the land. The rest is of sandy scrub jungle and barren lands. Due to the unstable conditions over the last 15 years approximately 10.203 ha of agricultural land have been abandoned.

   A distinctive feature of the peninsula is the underground formation of lime stone, in which groundwater is stored at depths of 06 to 14 meters. The water is extracted through about 110.000 open dug wells for domes tic and agricultural purposes surface water is acarce, although there are over 1000 ponds. In some areas water has been extracted excessively, resulting in increased salinity seasonally in others. Especially in areas close to the sea there intruding into the fresh water permanently.

    The population in 1981 census was 830.655 and it had been estimated that the population for 1991 and 1995 would rise through natural increase, to 933,000 in 1995.But due to the continuous displacements since 1990,the present population is around 626,329, which is about one half of the projected population.(Read More......)