Interesting facts

1. **Colonial History**: Yanam was a French colony for nearly 200 years, incorporated into French India in the 1720s. 2. **Political Anomaly**: Despite being surrounded completely by the state of Andhra Pradesh, Yanam is a district of the Union Territory of Puducherry. 3. **Distance from Capital**: Yanam is located approximately 870 kilometers away from Puducherry city. 4. **Geographical Size**: It is one of the smallest districts in India, covering a total area of just 30 square kilometers. 5. **The Coup d'État**: Yanam was liberated from French rule on June 13, 1954, following a bloodless coup led by local leaders, months before the rest of French India was transferred. 6. **Riverside Setting**: The town lies where the mighty Godavari River meets the Coringa River. 7. **Language**: While French was once the official language, Telugu is the mother tongue of almost the entire population. 8. **Eiffel Tower Replica**: Yanam boasts a 100-meter-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, built as a nod to its French heritage. 9. **Tax Benefits**: Due to its status as a Union Territory, fuel and alcohol are generally cheaper in Yanam compared to the surrounding state of Andhra Pradesh. 10. **St. Ann's Church**: Built in 1846 by French missionaries, this church is a stunning piece of European architecture in the Godavari delta. 11. **Dutch Origins**: Before the French took control, the Dutch established a factory and trading post here in the 17th century. 12. **The Obelisk**: The town features an obelisk commemorating the French era and those who lost their lives in various global conflicts. 13. **High Court Jurisdiction**: Legal matters in Yanam fall under the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court (in Chennai), not the Andhra Pradesh High Court. 14. **Yanaon**: In French historical records, the town is referred to as *Yanaon*. 15. **Riverfront Promenade**: The Rajiv Gandhi Beach is a beautifully landscaped riverwalk along the Godavari, a popular evening spot for locals. 16. **Seafood Hub**: Given its estuarine location, Yanam is famous for fresh Godavari river fish, prawns, and crabs. 17. **Coringa Mangroves**: It serves as a base camp for exploring the nearby Coringa Mangroves, which protect the region from cyclones. 18. **Bharat Mata Statue**: The town features a massive, prominent statue of Bharat Mata (Mother India) on the riverbank. 19. **Demographic Milestone**: Yanam boasts a sex ratio heavily in favor of women (1038 females for every 1000 males). 20. **Cyclonic History**: The town was entirely devastated by a massive cyclone in 1996, which led to a complete rebuilding of modern Yanam.