Lakshadweep is an archipelago located 200-400 km west of the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. The archipelago consists of 36 coral islands, 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. These enchanting coral islands in the Arabian Sea were called the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi islands, though they were popularly known as the Laccadives or Lakshadweep (hundred thousand islands). The territory was officially named Lakshadweep on 1 November 1973. The Lakshadweep islands had been declared a Union Territory of India in 1956.
The atolls poised on submarine banks, harbour these islands with a total area of 32 square km (12 square miles). The islands form the smallest of the Union Territories of India and the country’s only coral islands. . Of its twenty-seven islands, only ten are inhabited. Recently a previously uninhabited island, Bangaram, has been developed by the administration for promoting tourism. In Pitti island, which is uninhabited and is located only 24 km from Kavarathi, crows(absent elsewhere in the islands)and many other birds are found. Pitti has been declared a bird sanctuary.
Though the land area is extremely small, its lagoon area of about 4,200 sq km, 20,000 sq km of territorial waters and about 7,00,000 sq km of economic zone, if considered, Lakshadweep is one of the largest territories of our nation.
The coral atolls have two important mineral deposits— the phosphate deposits (guano) in the islands and the calcium carbonate in the lagoons. The lagoons and the adjacent areas of Lakshadweep are found to have algae which is of great economic importance.
The surface soil of coral sand contains 95 per cent calcium, hence most of the islands are barren with little spontaneous vegetation. However, the soil and the climatic conditions are ideal for coconut cultivation, and coconut therefore forms the staple product. Coconut is the spine of the island economy, with copra and coir forming the major export items, besides fish.
The early inhabitants of the islands are believed to have been Hindus who migrated from the Malabar Coast. Later they were converted to Islam by an Arab saint and are now Muslims. They were declared a Scheduled Tribe as per the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order, 1956.
The atolls poised on submarine banks, harbour these islands with a total area of 32 square km (12 square miles). The islands form the smallest of the Union Territories of India and the country’s only coral islands. . Of its twenty-seven islands, only ten are inhabited. Recently a previously uninhabited island, Bangaram, has been developed by the administration for promoting tourism. In Pitti island, which is uninhabited and is located only 24 km from Kavarathi, crows(absent elsewhere in the islands)and many other birds are found. Pitti has been declared a bird sanctuary.
Though the land area is extremely small, its lagoon area of about 4,200 sq km, 20,000 sq km of territorial waters and about 7,00,000 sq km of economic zone, if considered, Lakshadweep is one of the largest territories of our nation.
The coral atolls have two important mineral deposits— the phosphate deposits (guano) in the islands and the calcium carbonate in the lagoons. The lagoons and the adjacent areas of Lakshadweep are found to have algae which is of great economic importance.
The surface soil of coral sand contains 95 per cent calcium, hence most of the islands are barren with little spontaneous vegetation. However, the soil and the climatic conditions are ideal for coconut cultivation, and coconut therefore forms the staple product. Coconut is the spine of the island economy, with copra and coir forming the major export items, besides fish.
The early inhabitants of the islands are believed to have been Hindus who migrated from the Malabar Coast. Later they were converted to Islam by an Arab saint and are now Muslims. They were declared a Scheduled Tribe as per the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes List (Modification) Order, 1956.
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