LAKSHADWEEP

Subject : Geography

Context : An isolated island that became a melting point of cultures.

Concept :

About Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a tropical archipelago of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, 280 km to 480 km off the coast of Kerala. 11 are inhabited.
But currently, there are 35 islands, as the Parali 1 island submerged in water due to sea erosion.
Lakshadweep means “one lakh islands” in Malayalam, the official as well as the widely spoken native language in the territory. Fishing is the most important industry.
The islands form the smallest union territory of India and their total surface area is just 32 km square.
Kavaratti serves as the capital of the Union Territory and the region comes under the jurisdiction of Kerala High Court. It is a uni-district Union Territory.
The principal languages of Lakshadweep are Malayalam, Jeseri (Dweep Bhasha) and Mahl.
These islands were earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands.

Geography

The island is situated in the Laccadive Sea extending between 8 degree N and 12 degree N latitude.
The entire Lakshadweep islands group is made up of coral deposits.
The islands consist of unconsolidated pebbles, shingles, cobbles, and boulders. All are atolls surrounded by Fringing Reefs.
These islands are a part of Reunion Hotspot volcanism.
Amindivi Islands are the northern-most most while the Minicoy island is the southernmost.
8 Degree Channel ( 8 degrees north latitude) separates the islands of Minicoy and Maldives.
9 Degree Channel ( 9 degrees north latitude) separates the island of Minicoy from the main Lakshadweep archipelago.
Largest island: Minicoy Island (south of the nine-degree channel)
The topography of the Lakshadweep Islands is flat and relief features such as hills, streams, valleys, etc. are absent.
The Islands are extremely vulnerable to sea-level change as they do not rise more than five meters above sea level.
These islands have a north-south orientation. Exception: only Androth has an East-West orientation.