The Islands

2.1.6 The Islands

Description

Quick Overview

This section discusses India's geographical features, focusing on its mountainous regions, plains, plateaus, deserts, coastal areas, and islands.

Standard

India, a country with diverse geographical features, includes significant physiographic divisions such as the Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, and Islands. Among the islands, the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are highlighted for their unique formations and significance.

Detailed

The Islands in India

India is not only characterized by its vast mainland but also includes two significant groups of islands: Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Lakshadweep Islands

  • Located near the Malabar coast of Kerala, Lakshadweep consists of small coral islands formerly known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive, renamed in 1973.
  • This island group covers an area of 32 sq km, with Kavaratti as its administrative headquarters.
  • It's rich in diverse flora and fauna, including an uninhabited bird sanctuary on Pitti Island.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

  • This group includes a chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal and is larger and more numerous than Lakshadweep, divided into the Northern Andaman Islands and Southern Nicobar Islands.
  • The islands are thought to be parts of submarine mountain ranges, providing immense strategic importance.
  • These islands experience an equatorial climate and boast rich biodiversity, including extensive forest cover.

Overall, the unique geographical features of these islands complement those of India's mainland, contributing to the rich diversity of natural resources and potential for development.

Key Concepts

  • Lakshadweep Islands: A group of small coral islands known for biodiversity.

  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A larger and more strategically important group of islands.

  • Coral Island Formation: Formed from coral reefs which support diverse marine life.

Memory Aids

🎡 Rhymes Time

  • Lakshadweep's reefs, so wild and deep, home to birds where they chirp and leap.

πŸ“– Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a sailor who washed up on the shores of Lakshadweep, greeted by a sanctuary of birds, amazed by the coral’s beauty.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember: L for Lakshadweep, A for Andaman, they both reflect nature's grand plan.

🎯 Super Acronyms

R.A.C.E. - Reefs Attract Coral Ecosystems for Lakshadweep's natural beauty.

Examples

  • Lakshadweep consists of coral islands, with Kavaratti being its administrative center, known for its environmental significance.

  • The Andaman Islands are home to unique species of flora and fauna due to their isolated geographic location.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Lakshadweep Islands

    Definition:

    A group of small coral islands located off the Malabar coast of Kerala.

  • Term: Andaman and Nicobar Islands

    Definition:

    Two groups of islands in the Bay of Bengal that have strategic importance and are rich in biodiversity.

  • Term: Coral Islands

    Definition:

    Islands that are formed from coral reefs which are a type of marine ecosystem.

  • Term: Biodiversity

    Definition:

    The variety of life found in a particular habitat or ecosystem.