GENERAL

                Yanam is situated on the east coast of the Indian Peninsula between 16 degree 42’ Northern latitude, and between 82 degree 11’ and 82 degree 19’ Eastern longitude bounded on all sides by the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh State.  The town of Yanam lies on the spot where the River Coringa (Atreya) branches off from Gauthami into two parts.  The entire region, consisting of Yanam town and six villages is treated as a Municipality for purposes of local administration.  The region which covers an area of 20.0 sq.m. has a population of 31,362 according to the 2001 census.  The region is bounded on the east and south by river Gowthami Godavari which discharges itself into Bay of Bengal after flowing almost 14 kms. towards south east from Yanam.

 HISTORY

             A PARWANA from Haji Hassan Khan authorized the French Representative Fouquet, then Chief of the Company at Machilipatnam (325 kms away from Yanam) to set up a ‘loge’ at Yanam in the year 1731.  The sovereignty of the French over the territory was confirmed by Musafar Jung, the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1750.  The place was formally ceded to them only two years later.  Like all other settlements, Yanam too fell thrice into the hands of the British.  After the Napoleanic War, Yanam along with the factory at Machilipatnam was finally returned to the French early in 1817.

APPROACH

         There is no railway line in Yanam region.  The nearest Railway Station is at Kakinada (Headquarters of East Godavari District) which is 26 kms. away on the east.  It is an important trade center and port town and there is a District road connecting Yanam.  It is also linked by another road on the west of Ramachandrapuram and Rajahmundry.  A new bridge across river Gauthami was constructed and made use of public connecting Yanam with Yedurlanka, forming a part of NH 214.

 SOIL

             It is occupied by alluvium consisting of sand clay and gravel.  Ground water occurs both water table and confined conditions in the granular beds in the alluvial deposits.  It is development by means of shallow filter point well within a depth of nine metres.  The soil is grayish black and is essentially clayey in composition.  A few thin layers of sandy clay or sand, not exceeding 0.3 metre in thickness are intercalated with the clayed soil.  The river sands on the bank of Gauthami Godavari consists predominantly of quartz, felspar and muscovite mica.  A few grains of monazite are also found in the black streaks.

             A borehole dug by the villagers near Mettakurru for water supply is reported to have passed through the following strata down to a total depth of 55 metres (170 feet approximately)                                                                                                             

                        Sandy soil                   :                       3 m. thick

                        Clayey soil                   :                       6-8 m thick

                        Sandy soil                   :                       Remainder down to 55 m.

 There are no minerals of economic value in the region.

 IRRIGATION

             Yanam received irrigation water through Bank Canal which starts form Dowleswaram Head Works ( Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage on the river Godavari down stream Rajahmundry).  This canal runs towards east upto Pillanka, a small village near Yanam.  From popularly known as “French Channel” built by an agreement entered in 1949 between the then French Government and the Government of India.  This canal serves the irrigation as well as drinking water needs of the areas west of Coringa River.

             After merger, steps were taken to provide irrigation facilities for about 560 Ha. of dry land in the eastern side of Coringa River by providing a new irrigation canal called “Adivipolam Channel” from the tail end of Tallarevu south canal and at the starting point of Neelapalli channel on the right side.  The work was taken for execution by the Andhra Pradesh Pubic Works Department as a deposit work in 1964 and was completed and commissioned in June, 1966. The water from this channel is used for drinking purpose also, as in the case of French Channel.

 CLIMATE AND RAINFALL

             It experiences a climate which is characterized by high humidity over 70 per cent in the mornings Andover 60 per cent in the evenings throughout the year, an oppressive summer season and a good rainfall.  It enjoys the benefit of both the South - west and North - east Monsoon.

             During a year on an average, the normal rainfall is 1226 mm.

 TEMPERATURE

             From February, temperature start rising rapidly till May which is the hottest month with the mean maximum around 37 °C and mean minimum around 28 °C.  Humidity being high, the heat is very trying.  The maximum temperature on some days in May or early June before the onset of the south-west monsoon may even touch 47 °C.   The sea breeze, however afford some relief in afternoons.

             Similarly pre-monsoon thunder-showers may also bring welcome relief on some days.  With the onset of the monsoon in June the temperature falls rapidly and remains almost steady till September.  In this season mean maximum temperature is around 32 °C and night temperature fall rapidly till December or January when day temperature is around 27 °C and the night temperature around 19 °C.  Some times the minimum temperature may reach as low as about 14 °C.   December and January are the coolest months.

 HUMIDITY

             The air is generally humid throughout the year with relative humidity – over 70 per cent in the mornings and over 60 per cent in the evenings during all the months.

 CLOUDINESS

            The sky is generally heavily clouded to overcast during the south - west monsoon months.  There is moderate cloudiness in the post monsoon months.  During the rest of the year, the sky will clear or lightly clouded.

 SURFACE WINDS

             In the summer season winds blow from directions between south - east to south-west.  During the monsoon season, they blow mainly from south - west to west.  During October to February, winds are usually from north-east in the mornings, veering towards south-east in the afternoons.  Winds are generally light to moderate during the whole year.

 SPECIAL WEATHER PHENOMENA

         The storms and depression which form in the Bay of Bengal in the pre-monsoon month of May, and during September to November, cross the east coast, and affect the region and the neighbourhood, causing thunder-storms, heavy rain, tidal waves and strong winds.  Occasional thunder - storms associated mainly with the onset of the south - west monsoon occur in April, May and June.