User:Wareno/Tiswadi (island)

Tiswadi (Tissuari in Portuguese) also known as Island of Goa (Ilha de Goa in Portuguese) is the largest estuarine island in the Indian state of Goa and the largest in the Tiswadi Sub-District (Ilhas de Goa in Portuguese). It is situated on the confluence of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. Due to its name, it is often confused with Ilhas de Goa which means Islands of Goa (plural).

It is one of the of 6 major islands within the Tiswadi Sub-District, on the Mandovi River, the others being:


 * Chorão,
 * Divar,
 * Vanxim,
 * Cumbarjua,
 * St Estevam

The island has an area of 166 square kilometers.

Etymology
The island takes its name from "tis wadi" meaning "thirty settlements".

History
The Island of Goa had been a hindu settlement part of the Vijayanagara Empire until the 14th century, when it was incorporated into the Sultanate of Bijapur. In 1510 the island was captured by the second governor of Portuguese India Afonso de Albuquerque, who established it as the capital of Portuguese India for the next 450 years.

Water Bodies
The island is bound by:


 * Mandovi River to the north.
 * Cumbarjua Canal to the east.
 * Zuari River to the south.
 * Arabian Sea to the west.

Ferries
Prior to the construction of the bridges, the primary commute to and from the island was done via ferry. Some have become redundant, but most are still in use, they include:
 * Panjim to Betim.
 * Ribandar to Chorao.
 * Ribandar to Divar.
 * Old Goa to Divar.
 * Daugim to Tolto in St Estevam.
 * Gandaulim to Cumbarjua.
 * Agaçaim to Cortalim.

Bridges
There are a number of bridges built over the last hundred years, linking the island to other parts of the mainland.

Northern Bridges
These bridges are built over the Mandovi River. They pass through the villages of Penha de França and the city of Panjim:
 * 2 Mandovi Bridges: Connects Goa to Bardes.
 * Atal Bridge: Connects Goa to Bardes, but avoids the busy roads of Panjim entirely.

Eastern Bridges
These bridges are built over the Cumbarjua Canal.
 * Gandaulim Bridge: Connects Gandaulim in Goa to Cumbarjua.
 * Banastarim Bridge: Connects Corlim in Goa to Banastarim.

Southern Bridges
These bridges are built over the Zuari River. They pass through the villages of Agaçaim and Cortalim.
 * Zuari Bridge: Connects Goa to Mormugão.
 * A new Bridge is being constructed (similar in scale to the Atal Bridge) over the Zuari River.

Internal Bridges
These bridges are a link to places within the island, which are geographically close, but are separated by a body of water.
 * Ponte Conde de Linhares: This links Panjim to Ribandar, and is the oldest and most famous of all the internal bridges.

Historical maps
The Island of Goa was depicted on several historic maps.