ANDAMAN ISLANDS

ANDAMAN ISLANDS

Subject: Geography

Context: A plan for the sustainable and holistic development of the 680 sq km, fragile Little Andaman Island in the Andaman and Nicobar group has raised the alarm among conservationists.

Concept:

• The ‘Sustainable Development of Little Andaman Island – Vision Document’, is the NITI Aayog’s proposal to leverage the strategic location and natural features of the island.
• This, the vision says, will be done by building a new greenfield coastal city there, that will be developed as a free trade zone and will compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.

Andaman Islands

• The Andaman Islands are the extension of the submerged ArakanYoma Tertiary Mountain range of Myanmar and the Nicobars are the continuation of the Mentawai Islands to the south and southeast of Sumatra.
• The main rocks of these islands are sandstone, limestone and shale.
• These two island groups situated in the Bay of Bengal span 6°45′ N to 13°41′ N (740 km) and 92°12′ E to 93°57′ E (190 km).
• These islands are separated from one another by very narrow straits.
• Andamans are separated from Nicobar by 10-degree channel (10-degree latitude).
• South Andaman and Little Andaman are separated by Duncan Passage.
• The Grand Channel is between the Great Nicobar islands and the Sumatra islands of Indonesia.
• The Coco Strait is between the North Andaman islands and the Coco Islands of Myanmar.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands group is a Union Territory administered by the President through a Lt. Governor.
• Port Blair, located in South Andaman is the administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The southernmost point of India is The Indira Point, (formerly known as Pygmalion Point and Parsons Point) which is the southern point of the Great Nicobar Islands.
• The highest peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Saddle Peak, located in the North Andaman.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Island has a tropical marine climate influenced by the seasonal flow of monsoon winds.
• The region is under dense tropical rain forests. The coastal regions have mangrove forests.
• Coconut fruit is the staple food of the people. Fisheries, piggery is also followed.
• The Islands are also famous for the largest and rarest species of crab, the Giant Robber Crab. It can climb the coconut trees and break the hard shell of the fruit.
• The entire region is vulnerable to earthquakes as it is in the major earthquake zone.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also known as the Emerald Islands.
• Barren Island, located in the east of Middle Andaman is India s only active volcano.
• The Narcondam Island, located in the north-east of North Andaman is also a volcanic island.