Write short notes on the following:
The Island groups of India

ISLANDS. There are about 550 islands in the Indian Ocean. Most of these islands are too small to be inhabited. These islands are found in the following groups : (i) Andaman & Nicobar islands. These islands form two major groups in Bay of Bengal. These are Andamans and Nicobar islands. These islands extend between 6° and 14° N latitudes for a distance of 500 kms. These islands are 214 in number. The Nicobar group consists of 15 islands extending between 6° N to 10° N latitudes. Ten degree channel separates the Andaman group of islands from the Nicobar group. These islands form a union territory of India with Port Blair as its capital. Indira Point in the Nicobar island in the southern most point of the Indian Union. These islands form the summits of the submerged hills of the ocean floor.

(ii) Barren islands and Norcondam islands. These islands situated in north of Port Blair, are volcanic islands. Barren island is the only active volcano in India which erupted on 10th April 1991.

(iii) Lakshadweep islands. These islands are situated in the Arabian Sea and lie 320 km off the coast of Kerala between 8° and 12° North latitudes. These are coral islands and some of these are ring shaped and called atolls. These are 27 in number and 17 of these are uninhabited. It is a U.T. with Kavarti as Capital. Pamban and Rameshwaram islands lie between India and Sri Lanka.

Fig. The Arabian Sea—Islands

Fig. Bay of Bengal—Islands