Marina Beach, at 13 km long, is one of the longest beaches in the world. It forms the shoreline of Chennai, one of India's four major metropolitan 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. Another famous characteristic of the beach is the set of beautiful stone statues that adorn the roadside area of the beach. Some of these statues are of famous people like Mahatma Gandhi while others have symbolic significance (like the dignity of labour). Recently, a statue of Kannagi, a heroine of one of Tamil literature's most famous classics (the Silappadhikaram by Elangovadigal), was torn down by the ruling government for seemingly farcical reasons.

The Marina used to be famed for its pristine beauty, jolly ambiance, and rich ecosystems. However, since the middle of the 20th century, the beach and 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 coming to Chennai.

On December 26, 2004, a tsunami caused by an earthquake caused huge destruction killing hundreds of people in the vicinity of the beach, including fishing communities settled nearby.

See also

• List of beaches
• Strongest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia