The Andaman Islands is a popular holiday destination. Every year, the Islands witness a large number of visitors. The beauty and bounty of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands entice tourists from all across the globe. However, there are several other interesting aspects about Andaman Islands which very few people are aware of. Let us take the opportunity to unearth those facts and discover the Andaman Islands, with a new vision!
This is the first in our series of posts on “About Andaman Islands”. Though a lot of tourists are aware about the Andaman Islands as a great vacation destination, yet they look out for more information about the Islands. Our series “About Andaman Islands” will strive to provide important and useful first-hand information about the place.
About Andaman Islands: The Geographical Facets
86% area of the Andaman Islands is covered by thick tropical forests
Let’s give you a quick overview about the little big things about Andaman Islands. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a group of scenic islands nestled in the eastern part of Bay of Bengal. They are one of the seven Union Territories of India. There are some 572 islands, tiny islets and rocks – some inhabited and some not. They all consists of rolling terrain, ridges and spurs all over with subterranean inlets and creeks due to underwater gorges.
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west and Burma (also known as Myanmar) to the north and east. Most of the islands are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory.
The 800 km long stretch forms a long and disjointed chain of islands in an arc formation. Coral reefs are abundant and encircle the islands all over.
Because of the available geological data, it is presumed that these islands could have been connected to Burma and Sumatra. The Cape Negris is supposed to have been connected to South part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Andalas (Sumatra).
But ecologically the flora and fauna of Andaman & Nicobar Islands do not show any proof that there is any land connection between Burma and Sumatra. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are in the Torrid Zone. Thick tropical forest covers some 86% of the entire area. The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands with the Nicobar Islands.
The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. It is the home to many administrative headquarters of the region, as well as historical and natural sightseeing attractions. The capital of the Nicobar Islands is Car Nicobar.
About Andaman Islands: A Snapshot
Saddle Peak – The Highest Point in the Andaman Islands!
| LOCATION | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Bengal |
| Longitude | 92° to 94° East |
| Latitude | 6° to 14° North |
| ALTITUDE | |
| Andaman Islands Saddle Peak (North Andaman Island) | 732 Meters |
| Nicobar Islands Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar Island) | 642 Meters |
| DISTANCE | |
| Distance by Sea (in Kms) | |
| Chennai to Port Blair | 1,190 |
| Calcutta to Port Blair | 1,250 |
| Vishakhapatnam to Port Blair | 1,200 |
| Distance by Air (in Kms) | |
| Chennai to Port Blair | 1,330 |
| Calcutta to Port Blair | 1,303 |
| AREA | |
| Total Area | 8249 Sq. Kms. |
| Andaman District | 6408 Sq. Kms. |
| Nicobar District | 1841 Sq. Kms. |
| Urban Area | 16.64 Sq. Kms. |
| Rural Area | 8232 Sq. Kms. |
| Total Islands | 572 |
| Inhabited Islands | 36 |
In our next post on About Andaman Islands, we will talk about the general weather of the place and the best time to visit the Islands. Stay tuned for that!