Write a short note on - The Island groups of India.
Answers
Answer:
India is politically divided into 29 states and 7 Union Territories. National capital of India is Delhi. Among these 7 union territories, Two are the island groups of India. Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar island are the two island groups of India.
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep islands are located in the Arabian sea. The island is located in off coast of the Kerala state. Lakshadweep is the island group of India that has coral origin. These are coral islands located off the coast of the God’s own country Kerala. They are considered as kind of coral reefs that are known as Atolls which is circular or horse-shoe shaped reefs.
Features
After Sikkim, Lakshadweep is the next smallest populated place in India
Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory. (Our country Indian consists of 29 states and 7 union territories. Union territory is not an independent unit but is run by the administrators appointed by the President of India)
The Kavaratti is the capital of the Union Territory Lakshadweep in India
Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands, scattered over approximately 78,000 square km of the Arabian Sea, 200-440 km off the south-western coast of India
The population in this island is approximately 65,000
Andaman and Nicobar Island
The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands lies to the southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal. Andaman and Nicobar has its own rich culture and traditions. The island has large number of beaches and tourists are attracted by these.
Features
Port Blair is the capital of Andaman Nicobar Islands.
Famous for the popular cellular jail
Port Blair has a tropical monsoon climate
Most common religion is Hinduism followed by Christianity and Islam
Bengali is the most common language. Hindi, Tamil and Telugu are other languages spoken by the people
Tourism is the main leading economy.
Answer:
India has 2 main island groups, namely Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands
Their main features are:
Lakshadweep islands:-
i. This group of islands is composed of small coral islands.
ii. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive. In 1973 these were named as Lakshadweep.
iii. It covers a small area of 32 sq km. Kavaratti island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep.
iv. This island group has great diversity of flora and fauna. The Pitli island, which is uninhabited, has a bird sanctuary.
Andaman and Nicobar islands:-
i. They are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – The Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south.
ii. It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains.
iii. These island groups are of great strategic importance for the country.
iv. There is great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too. These island lie close to the equator and experience equatorial climate and have thick forest cover.