|
The
string of 300 islands that comprises the Union Territory of Andaman
& Nicobar Islands, India lies in the middle of the Bay of Bengal.
The islands are ethnically not a part of India for until quite
recently they were only inhabited by indigenous people. These
islands are often called the "perfect tropical paradise"
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were constituted into a Union
Territory in November 1956. The Islands are in two groups: the
Andamans and the Nicobar, with a ten degree channel separating the
two. They stretch over 500 miles of water in the Bay of Bengal.
Geographically, they are situated between the 6th and 14th parallel
of north, latitude and between 92 degree and 94 degree of east
longitude.
Although
the Andaman Islands, large and small, number about 239, the bulk
consists of three closely connected large islands., North, Middle
and South Andamans which with other two Islands, Baratang and
Rut-Land, almost form one landmass known as the Great Andamans. In
the Nicobars, there are 19 islands of which 13 are inhabited by
about 12,000 aboriginal tribesmen. Most of them live on Car Nicobar,
the northern most of the archipelago. Half of the total area is
covered by the Great Nicobar which is almost uninhabited.
The
Islands possess a number of harbours, notably Port Blair in the south,
Elphinstone and Bonington in the middle and Port Cornwallis in the
north. The Nicobar- Islands are situated to the South of
the Andamans. There is a fine landlocked harbour between the Islands of
Kamotra and Nancowry known as Nancowry Harbour. Coconut is the main item
trade and the major item in their diet. And they have been cultivating
coconut for as long as any one can remember.

|
|