Great Nicobar Island, Location, Area, Biodiversity, Latest News

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Great Nicobar Island Latest News

The Andaman and Nicobar Administration recently invited financial bids to conduct a social impact assessment for land acquisition needed to build a new arterial road under the much-debated Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project.

About Great Nicobar Island

It is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands archipelago.
It is separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.
It covers an area of 1044 sq.km.
It remains sparsely populated, with dense tropical rainforests covering more than 85% of its area.
Its coastline features over 100 kilometers of untouched beaches, renowned for their stunning coral reefs and crystal-clear waters.
It is also home to Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
Mount Thullier, which is about 2,105 ft high, is the highest peak.
Galathea, Alexandra, and Dagmar are the major rivers.
The major tribes in Great Nicobar Island are the Shompens and the Nicobarese.
It is home to the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site.
Biodiversity:
- It houses 650 species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, bryophytes, and lichens, among others.
- The tract is rich in plant diversity and fosters a number of rare and endemic species, including Cyathea albosetacea (tree fern) and Phalaenopsis speciosa (orchid).
- The region also harbours a large number of endemic and endangered species of fauna.
- To date, 11 species of mammals, 32 species of birds, 7 species of reptiles and 4 species of amphibians have been found to be endemic.
- Of these, the well-known Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles and Reticulated Python are endemic and/or endangered.