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| ANDAMAN ISLANDS - GENERAL INFORMATION |
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The Andaman & Nicobar group of islands are a group of scenic islands nestled in the eastern part of Bay of Bengal. Altogether there are some 572 islands, tiny islets and rocks - some inhabited and some not -all with rolling terrain, with ridges and spurs all over with subterranean inlets and creeks due to underwater gorges.
Forming a long and disjointed chain of islands in an arc formation they are about 800 km long. 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 group of 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.
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How to reach
Do's & Don'ts
Interesting Facts
FAQs |
| Location |
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Altitude |
| Location |
Bay of Bengal |
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Andaman Islands
Saddle Peak
(North Andaman Island) |
732 Meters |
| Longitude |
92° to 94° East |
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Nicobar Islands
Mount Thullier
(Great Nicobar Island) |
642 Meters |
| Latitude |
6° to 14° North |
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| Distance |
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Area |
| Distance by Sea (in Kms) |
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Total Area |
8249 |
Sq. Kms. |
| Chennai to Port Blair |
1,190 |
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Andaman District |
6408 |
Sq. Kms. |
| Calcutta to Port Blair |
1,250 |
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Nicobar District |
1841 |
Sq. Kms. |
| Vishakhapatnam to Port Blair |
1,200 |
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Urban Area |
16.64 |
Sq. Kms. |
| Distance by Air (in Kms) |
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Rural Area Rural Area |
8232 |
Sq. Kms. |
| Chennai to Port Blair |
1,330 |
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Total Islands |
572 |
| Calcutta to Port Blair |
1,303 |
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Inhabited Islands |
36 |
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| State Bird - Andaman Wood Pigeon |
The state bird of Andaman Islands is the Andaman Wood Pigeon. It is found only in
the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The pigeon being endemic to these islands lives in the dense evergreen forests.
Generally it looks a mixture of darkish slate grey in the upper side and light blue grey underneath.
It resembles domestic pigeon in size but has a slightly longer tail. The head looks white and delicate with a patterned neck.
The characteristic features with which you can identify it are its reddish tinged bill with yellow tip and purplish red ring like coloured skin around the eyes with a metallic green sheen on the upper side. |
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| State Animal - Dugong |
The state animal is Dugong - a sea mammal really endemic to Indo-Pacific sea coast areas - especially to Andaman Islands.
Though called endemic to Andaman Islands, it is found all along the shallow tropical waters of neighbouring Indo-Pacific Region.
Known popularly as sea-cow, this is an herbivorous marine mammal, and is an endangered species with dwindling numbers.
The sea grass available abundantly along the Andaman coast line is the main food of these gentle sea mammals along with other marine water vegetation.
Dugong looks rotund weighing about 400 kg and reaches about three meters in length as it grows into an adult. It has a dolphin like fluked tail. It is strictly marine herbivorous - will eat only vegetation found in marine water like sea grass.
Other areas where Dugong is found in India are Gulf of Mannar, gulf of Kurch, Palk Bay area along with Andaman & Nicobar Island Groups.
Shallow waters in and around Little Andaman, North Reef, parts of Nicobar Islands and Ritchie's Archipelago are where the dugongs are spotted in Andaman Islands. |
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| State Tree - Andaman Padauk |
The state tree Andaman Padauk is a charming looking tropical deciduous tree with burr and buttress pattern giving it a distinct look. It is endemic to these islands only.
Growing to a height of 120 feet or so, this tree is highly prized for its distinct reddish coloured timber from which beautiful furniture pieces are manufactured.
Growing tall, they spread out into branches after about 60-65 feet and form a thick canopy like cover at the top.
They have flying saucer shaped inedible fruits.
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| Some interesting facts about Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| Marine life in Andaman Islands |
- World’s largest sea turtles - the leatherback turtles - come to the calm and serene waters of Andaman Islands every year for nesting.
- These endangered species - called Dermochelys Coriacea - look huge - growing up to two meters long and one meter in diameter and growing up to 500 kg in weight.
- These turtles flock to Andaman coast line in huge numbers - as many as 1,000 turtles every year.
- Only four places in the world can boast of these nesting places and Andaman is one with 30 of its islands where the turtles nest nominated as National Parks.
- As many as 94 islands have been chosen as National Parks - including those with nesting leatherback turtles.
- These Islands include some 8 National Sea Parks as well.
- Commercial fishing is not encouraged generally in Andaman Islands and no fishing is allowed in the restricted and reserve areas except by the aboriginal tribe people who live in the restricted areas. Hence it is where "fish die of old age" because they are allowed to live a full life.
About land life
There are exotic animals, birds and butterfly species which are endemic to only these areas which add to the ecological special nature of these islands.
- There are as many as 58 species of animals live in Andaman & Nicobar Island Groups. Some 60% of these animals are endemic to these islands only.
- There are a host of butterflies flocking to the thick tropical forests of Andaman Islands. Half of these butterflies are found only in these Islands.
- The largest of the land-living arthropod (Birgus Latro) lives in Andaman Islands. These are land-living crabs. Since they climb up coconut trees at night time for the soft kernels of tender coconuts stealthily they are nick-named as - ‘Robber Crabs.’ They make a tiny hole and suck the entire kernel portion leaving out the shells as they are. These crabs are found in some parts of Nicobar Islands as well as areas of South Sentinel Island.
- Very few of the state animal Dugong are held in captivity as they are very shy and do not breed easily. There are only five dugongs in captivity in the world. Japan and Australia each have two dugongs at Mie Toba Aquarium and at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland where they draw huge crowds of visitors. The fifth dugong is in Singapore at Underwater World, Sentosa Island. As they prefer the sea grass abundantly available along the Andaman Island coast line, sometimes lucky visitors have been able to spot them in all their natural glory!
Many plant species and their subspecies found in many of the Andaman & Nicobar Island Groups are endemic to these areas. Nowhere else in the world you can find them generally.
- Some 40% of plants and their subspecies found Emerald Island is endemic to only that island.
Ecological specialties
- Andaman Islands have the distinction of having the only active volcano in all South Asia regions. Barren Island which is some 135 km northeast of Port Blair is where you can see the live volcano but from a distance.
- Katchal Island in Nicobar Islands enjoyed the distinction of being the first place to receive the first sunrays of this millennium sunrise.
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| Attracting famous biologists |
Andaman & Nicobar Island Groups have always fascinated the common men and learned people alike. The peculiar ecological balance and beauty, the quaint ethnicity and the breathtakingly beautiful coral reefs draw huge crowds year after year.
- In the year 2002, Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been identified as ‘Bio Diversity Spots’ by UNESCO. Some 62 marine scientists gathered in March 2002 under the auspices of UNESCO and recognized the rare ecologically and biologically special feature of Andaman & Nicobar Group of Islands and named them as Bio Diversity Hotspots with potential to be named as World Heritage Sites.
- The coral reefs that surround the Andaman Islands have always been center of attention for the entire mankind. A rapid survey - by a group of internationally acclaimed scientists in April 2001 - revealed really startling and very important facts about coral reef which were not previously known.
- Nearly 197 species of coral were identified in thirteen sites
- Nearly 111 species of these 197 species are newly recorded - previously not known
- These coral reefs have not been much affected by the coral bleaching which happened in 1998.
The coral reefs in other parts of the world suffered greatly from the coral bleaching losing as much as 27%.
The other two factors which destroyed nearly 16% of coral reefs in other parts of world are El Nino and La Nina in a matter of just 9 months.
- The wild splendour of Andaman & Nicobar Group of Islands and the unspoilt loveliness of the sun, sea and the beautiful sands have attracted the God of underwater filmmaking, Jacques Yves Cousteau. He visited the islands in 1990 and spent days here filming a 45-minute documentary film titled as ‘The Invisible Islands’. Many of the diving sites where Cousteau - deemed as the father of scuba diving - filmed his shots are still drawing many visitors during the diving season.
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