Andaman and Nicobar Islands
-
What are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India. This territory consists of two island groups at the Bay of Bengal's southeastern edge. The Andaman Islands have more than 300 islands, while the Nicobar Islands consist of 19 islands.
These islands form an arc stretching 620 miles (1,000 km) between Myanmar and Sumatra, Indonesia, marking the boundary between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Port Blair, on South Andaman Island, serves as the capital. Known for indigenous communities that have traditionally avoided interaction with outsiders, the islands are situated on ancient trade routes between India and Myanmar. The name Andaman is likely derived from Hanuman, the monkey god of Hindu mythology, while Nicobar likely comes from the Tamil word nakkavaram, meaning "land of the naked".
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Where are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India, located at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. The islands are the peaks of a submerged mountain range, forming an arc stretching 620 miles (1,000 km) southward between Myanmar and Sumatra, Indonesia. This arc marks the boundary between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. The capital of the territory is Port Blair, which is located on South Andaman Island.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands called a union territory of India?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands became a union territory of India in 1956. Union territories are governed either partially or entirely by India's union government. The territory is administered by a lieutenant governor appointed by India's president, who is assisted by a Council of Ministers. The territory also has its own elected legislature. These islands, situated on the ancient trade route between India and Myanmar, were administratively linked by the British to the Nicobar Islands in 1872.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands divided or organized?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India, which consists of two island groups in the Bay of Bengal. These islands form an arc that stretches for about 620 miles (1,000 km) between Myanmar and Sumatra, Indonesia.
The administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is managed by the central government through a lieutenant governor, who is appointed by the president of India. The lieutenant governor is aided by a Council of Ministers. The territory also has its own legislature with elected members. The lieutenant governor has more authority than a governor.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the climate and natural environment like on these islands?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a tropical climate moderated by sea breezes, with temperatures typically ranging from the low 70s to the mid-80s °F (about 23–30 °C) year-round. The territory receives roughly 120 inches (3,000 mm) of rain annually, mainly from the southwest monsoon (May–September) and tropical cyclones (October–November).
Most of the islands are covered with dense tropical forest, supporting diverse flora and fauna. Dominant tree species include narra (Andaman redwood) and trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae; mangrove swamps surround harbors and tidal creeks. The islands host terrestrial and marine mammals, including the endemic Andaman wild pig, macaques, spotted deer, and dugongs. Over 200 bird species, snakes, lizards, saltwater crocodiles, fish, turtles, and sea snakes inhabit the area.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who are the people living on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and what are their cultures like?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to a diverse population consisting of indigenous groups and immigrants from South Asia.
Andamanese: The indigenous people of the Andaman Islands include the Great Andamanese, Sentinelese, Jarawa, and Onge. These groups have faced significant cultural changes and population decline due to encounters with outsiders. Those that remain continue to practice hunting and gathering.
Nicobarese: The indigenous inhabitants of the Nicobar Islands, including the Shompen, constitute the majority in the Nicobars. They are believed to be descendants of Malays from Southeast Asia and the Mon of Myanmar. They speak various Nicobarese languages and some also speak Hindi and English.
The islands also have a sizable population of immigrants from South Asia, who primarily speak Hindi or Bengali, but Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam are also common.
More than two-thirds of the people of the Andaman Islands are Hindu. Christians make up about one-fifth of the population and Muslims less than one-tenth. Many Nicobarese are Christian, although some communities practice local religions or have adopted Hinduism, which is prevalent throughout the region. There is also a notable Muslim minority in the Nicobars.
4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, union territory, India, consisting of two groups of islands at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. The peaks of a submerged mountain range, the Andaman Islands and their neighbours to the south, the Nicobar Islands, form an arc stretching southward for some 620 miles (1,000 km) between Myanmar (Burma) and the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The arc constitutes the boundary between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. Port Blair (on South Andaman Island) is the territorial capital.
Situated on the ancient trade route between India and Myanmar, the Andamans were visited by the navy of the English East India Company in 1789, and in 1872 they were linked administratively by the British to the Nicobar Islands. The two sets of islands became a union territory of the Republic of India in 1956. The territory has for more than a century been recognized for its indigenous communities, which have ardently avoided extensive interaction with ethnic outsiders.
In 2004 the islands drew global attention when they were severely damaged by a large tsunami that had been triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia. Area 3,185 square miles (8,249 square km). Pop. (2011) 379,944.
Land
The Andamans comprise more than 300 islands. North, Middle, and South Andaman, known collectively as Great Andaman, are the main islands; others include Landfall Island, Interview Island, the Sentinel Islands, Ritchie’s Archipelago, and Rutland Island. Little Andaman in the south is separated from the Nicobar Islands by the Ten Degree Channel, which is about 90 miles (145 km) wide.
The Nicobars consist of 19 islands. Among the most prominent are Car Nicobar in the north; Camorta, Katchall, and Nancowry in the centre of the chain; and Great Nicobar in the south. About 90 miles to the southwest of Great Nicobar lies the northwestern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Relief and drainage
Both the Andaman and Nicobar groups are part of a great island arc, formed by the above-sea extensions of submarine ridges of the Rakhine Mountains and the Patkai Range to the north and the Mentawai Ridge (the peaks of which form the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia) to the south. The highest elevation is 2,418 feet (737 metres) at Saddle Peak on North Andaman, followed by Mount Thullier at 2,106 feet (642 metres) on Great Nicobar and Mount Harriet at 1,197 feet (365 metres) on South Andaman. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there were volcanic eruptions on Barren Island in the northern Andamans.
Formed of sandstone, limestone, and shale of Cenozoic age (i.e., formed during the past 65 million years), the terrain of the Andamans is rough, with hills enclosing narrow longitudinal valleys. Flat land is scarce and is confined to a few valleys, such as the Betapur on Middle Andaman and Diglipur on North Andaman. Perennial rivers are few. The coral-fringed coasts of the islands are deeply indented, forming safe harbours and tidal creeks.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
The terrain of the Nicobars is more diverse than that of the Andamans. Some of the Nicobar Islands, such as Car Nicobar, have flat coral-covered surfaces with offshore coral formations that prevent most ships from anchoring. Other islands, such as Great Nicobar, are hilly and contain numerous fast-flowing streams. Great Nicobar is the only island in the territory with a significant amount of fresh surface water.
Climate
The climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is tropical but is moderated by sea breezes. Temperatures typically rise from the low 70s F (about 23 °C) into the mid-80s F (about 30 °C) daily throughout the year. The territory receives roughly 120 inches (3,000 mm) of rain annually, brought mainly by the southwest monsoon, which blows from May through September, and by the tropical cyclones that follow in October and November. In the Nicobars, Great Nicobar receives considerably more rain than the other islands. The Andamans have long provided meteorological data for shipping in the Bay of Bengal; a reporting station was in operation at Port Blair as early as 1868.
Plant and animal life
The great majority of the area of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is covered with dense tropical forest, which supports a broad spectrum of flora and fauna. The dominant tree species include narra (also called Andaman redwood, or padauk; Pterocarpus dalbergioides) and various large trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae. The harbours and tidal creeks often are surrounded by mangrove swamps. Many species of tree ferns of the family Cyatheaceae are found in the Nicobars but not in the Andamans.
The islands are inhabited by only a few dozen species of terrestrial and marine mammals, a number of which—such as the Andaman wild pig (Sus scrofa andamanensis)—are endemic to the region. Other common mammals include macaques, spotted deer, civets, shrews, whales, dolphins, and dugongs (Dugong dugon). The territory is home to more than 200 species of birds, including many endemic varieties. Numerous types of snakes and lizards inhabit the forests, and saltwater crocodiles, fish, turtles, and sea snakes are abundant in the coastal waters. Many species of flora and fauna have yet to be documented systematically.