Andaman and Nicobar Islands Special Notes for UPSC PSC (in Hindi)

Lesson 4 of 5 • 25 upvotes • 10:31mins

R K Shukla

The Andaman and Nicobar islands extend from 6° 45′ N to 13° 45′ N and from 92° 10′ E to 94° 15′ E for a distance of about 590 km. The Andaman islands are divided into three main islands i.e. North, Middle and South. Duncan passage separates Little Andaman from South Andaman. The Great Andaman group of islands in the north is separated by the Ten Degree Channelfrom the Nicobar group in the south [Prelims 2014]. Port Blair, the capital of Andaman Nicobar Islands lies in the South Andaman. Among the Nicobar islands, the Great Nicobaris the largest. It is the southernmost island and is very close to Sumatra island of Indonesia. The Car Nicobar is the northernmost. Most of these islands are made of tertiary sandstone, limestone and shale resting on basic and ultrabasic volcanoes [Similar to Himalayas]. THE BARREN AND NARCONDAM ISLANDS, north of Port Blair, are volcanic islands [these are the only active volcanoes in India][There are no active volcanoes in main land India] Some of the islands are fringed with coral reefs. Many of them are covered with thick forests. Most of the islands are mountainous. Saddle peak (737 m) in North Andaman is the highest peak.