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Geography and History Andaman and Nicobar Islands

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The geography and history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands states that Andaman and Nicobar is one of the seven union territories of India, which was infamous as the 'Kalapani' during the British rule in India. The geography and history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a rich source of information on the the location, demography and the rich past of the Island.

The geography, constituting the first element of geography and history in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, maintains that Andaman and Nicobar is a conglomeration of about 570 islands, with Port Blair as their capital.

A brief estimate of the geography of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is as follows:

  • Area - 8249 square kilometers.
  • Area of Andaman district - 6498 square kilometers.
  • Area of Nicobar district - 1841 square kilometers.
  • Latitude - 6º to 14º North.
  • Longitude - 92º to 94º East.
  • Height - Sea level to 732 meters.
  • Highest point - Saddle peak (732 meters) and Mount Thullier (642 meters).
  • Districts - 2.
  • Climate - Tropical.
  • Temperature - 31º C (maximum) and 23º C (minimum).
  • Forest area - 92%
  • Demography - 280,661 (1991 census).
  • Ethnic races - Onge, Sentinelese, Jarawa and Andamanes of the Negroid origin, and Shompen and Nicobarese of Mongoloid descent.
  • Languages - Nicobarese, Malayalam, Telegu, Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, etc.

    The history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands suggests that the island was a covered with a tribal population until 1789. In 1789, the East India Company established a settlement in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but was soon vacated in 1796.

    It was in 1857, during the first war of Indian Independence that the island was used as a penal colony, which was known as 'Kalapani'. The convicts charged against some criminal offense against the East India Company was sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

    Moreover, during the Second World War, the island was recaptured by the Britishers who continued their administration in the islands till 1947, the year when India got its independence.

    In fact, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' geography and history is a rich store house that enfolds the topography and rich past of the Island.

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