Majuli

Mājuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam, India and the 1st island district of the country. The island had a total area of 1250km2 at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion it had an area of only 352km2 in 2014. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. However it is recognised by Guinness Book of World Records as World's Largest River Island.The island is formed by the Brahmaputra river in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri River in the north. Mājuli island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat. The island is about 300-400km east from the state's largest city —Guwahati. It was formed due to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, mainly the Lohit. Mājuli is the abode of the Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture.HistoryOriginally, the island was a long, narrow piece of land called Majoli that had the Brahmaputra flowing in the north and the Burhidihing flowing in the south, till they met at Lakhu. Frequent earthquakes in the period 1661–1696 set the stage for a catastrophic flood in 1750 that continued for 15 days, which is mentioned in historical texts and reflected in folklore. As a result of this flood, the Brahmaputra split into two branches — one flowing along the original channel and the other flowing along the Burhidihing channel and the Mājuli island was formed.