Prakasam

Statistics
Headquarters: Ongole
Population: 3,059,423 (2001)
     Density: 173.57/sq km (450/sq mi)
Area: 17,626 sq km (6805 sq mi)

Assembly Constituencies
Yerragondapalem(SC), Darsi, Parchur, Addanki, Chirala, Santhanuthalapadu(SC), Ongole, Kandukur, Kondapi(SC), Markapuram, Giddalur, Kanigiri

Parlimentary Constituencies
Ongole

Formation
The Ongole district was originally constituted on the 2 February 1970, carved out of Guntur, Nellore and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh. It was renamed as Prakasam district on 12 May, 1972, in memory of the great patriot and Leader, Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu, also known as Andhra Kesari (Lion of Andhra ) who was born in Kanuparthi village of this district. It was carved out of three taluks of Guntur District, i.e. Addanki, Chirala and Ongole, four taluks of Nellore district, i.e. Kandukur, Kanigiri, Podili and Darsi and three taluks of Kurnool district i.e. Markapuram, Kambum and Giddaluru. It is one of the nine districts in the Coastal Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh.

Main Towns
Ongole, Addanki, Markapur, Darsi, Chirala, Kandukur, Parchur, Giddaluru, Podili, Dornala, Cumbum, Kanigiri, Chimakurthi.
Markapur is India's main slate manufacturing town where the historic temple of Lord Chennakesava is situated. Chimakurthi is world renowned for its granite reserves. Dornala is also known as diguva Srisailam, since it is very near the historic pilgrimage center of Srisailam.

Rivers and Lakes
Cumbum lake also known as Gundalakamma lake built on Gundalakamma rivulet upon Nallamalai hills is one of the oldest man made lakes of Asia. The anicut was built by the Gajapati kings of Orissa in 15th. Century AD when the area was under their control. It was subsequently renovated by the Vijayanagar princess Varadharajamma. The lake in its present form is about 7 km long and on average, about 3.5 km wide As per the Imperial gazette of India at the turn of 20th century the height of the dam was 57 feet (17 m) and the drainage area was 430 square miles (1,100 sq km). The direct irrigation land was about 10,300 acres (42 sq km) in all. Cumbum lake is accessible both by the rail Guntur-Nandyal railway line and by road 108 Km from Ongole.

Agriculture
Tobacco, Lemon, Sunflower, Rice 

Industries
Granite
Slate
Dairy

Roads and Rails
NH-5

Temples
Bhairavakona
Chennakesava

External Links
1. http://www.aptourism.in/prakasam.html