Islands of India
Notes
India has two island groups: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea, both Union Territories. There are also many coastal and river islands.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- About 570 islands (a few dozen inhabited), area about 8,250 sq km; the capital Port Blair (renamed Sri Vijaya Puram).
- An extension of the Arakan Yoma range of Myanmar; volcanic and sedimentary in origin.
- The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman group (north) from the Nicobar group (south) between Little Andaman and Car Nicobar. The Duncan Passage lies between South Andaman and Little Andaman.
- Saddle Peak (about 737 m, North Andaman) is the highest point; Mount Thullier (about 642 m, Great Nicobar) is the highest in the Nicobar group.
- Barren Island has India's only confirmed active volcano; Narcondam is dormant.
- Indira Point (about 6°45'N, Great Nicobar) is India's southernmost point, partly submerged after the 2004 tsunami.
- Vegetation: tropical evergreen forest; mangroves; rich biodiversity.
- Tribes: Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese (uncontacted), Shompen and Nicobarese. Protected under tribal reserve rules.
- Strategic importance: near the Strait of Malacca; the Andaman and Nicobar Command (2001), India's first tri-service theatre command. The Great Nicobar development project (a transshipment port and other works) has raised environmental and tribal concerns.
Lakshadweep
- About 36 islands (about 10 inhabited), area only about 32 sq km; coral (atoll) islands off the Kerala coast; the capital Kavaratti.
- The Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the main group; the Eight Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the Maldives.
- The population is mostly Muslim; fishing and coconuts are the main activities; the Pitti island is a bird sanctuary.
Other islands
- Majuli (Brahmaputra, Assam; the world's largest river island), Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh; India's spaceport), Pamban (Rameswaram), Elephanta (Mumbai), Sagar Island (Ganga delta), Diu, Divar (Goa), Vypin (Kerala), and Abdul Kalam Island (formerly Wheeler Island, Odisha; a missile test range).
Key Points
- Andaman and Nicobar: Bay of Bengal; Ten Degree Channel separates the two groups.
- Barren Island: active volcano; Indira Point: southernmost tip.
- Lakshadweep: coral atolls; capital Kavaratti; Nine Degree Channel and Eight Degree Channel.
- Sentinelese and Jarawa are the protected tribes of the Andamans.
- Majuli is the largest river island; Sriharikota is the spaceport.
MCQs
Q1. The Ten Degree Channel separates:
(a) Minicoy from the Maldives
(b) The Andaman group from the Nicobar group
(c) Lakshadweep from Kerala
(d) Sri Lanka from India Ans:
(b).
Q2. The islands of Lakshadweep are of:
(a) Volcanic origin
(b) Coral origin
(c) Glacial origin
(d) Alluvial origin Ans:
(b). Atolls.
Q3. India's only active volcano is located on:
(a) Narcondam
(b) Barren Island
(c) Great Nicobar
(d) Car Nicobar Ans:
(b).