Marina Beach

Marina Beach' is the second longest beach in the world, after Miami Beach in Florida. It forms the shoreline of Chennai, one of India's four major cities and is located on the Eastern coast of the country (called the Coromandel Coast). Unlike the short, rocky formations that make up the Juhu Beach in Mumbai on the west coast of India, the Marina is primarily sandy.

The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, much of the beach and the water has become polluted. A proliferation of plastic bags, human waste and other pollutants have rendered many parts of the beach unusable. In recent years, many voluntary organisations have taken up the task of cleaning up the Marina and protecting the ecosystem. Particular efforts include protection of Olive-Ridley turtle nests along the Neelangarai section of the beach. Despite these problems however, a visit to the Marina is a sine qua non for any tourist to Chennai.