Andaman Islands

Andaman Islands
Location in the Indian Ocean
Geography
LocationBay of Bengal
Coordinates12°30′N 92°45′E / 12.500°N 92.750°E / 12.500; 92.750
ArchipelagoAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Total islands572
Major islandsNorth Andaman Island, Little Andaman, Middle Andaman Island, South Andaman Island
Area6,408 km2 (2,474 sq mi)
Highest elevation732 m (2402 ft)
Highest pointSaddle Peak
Administration
Union territoryAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Capital cityPort Blair
Administrative regionYangon Region
CapitalYangon
Demographics
Population343,125 (2011)
Pop. density48/km2 (124/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsBamar
Indic
Dravidian
Jarawa
Onge
Sentinelese
Great Andamanese
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
Official websitewww.andaman.nic.in
Detailed map
of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman Islands (/ˈændəmən/) are an archipelago, made up of 200 islands, in the northeastern Indian Ocean about 130 km (81 mi) southwest off the coasts of Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Region. Together with the Nicobar Islands to their south, the Andamans serve as a maritime boundary between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. Most of the islands are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, while the Coco Islands and Preparis Island are part of the Yangon Region of Myanmar.

The Andaman Islands are home to the Andamanese, a group of indigenous people made up of a number of tribes, including the Jarawa and Sentinelese.[1] While some of the islands can be visited with permits, entry to others, including North Sentinel Island, is banned by law. The Sentinelese are generally hostile to visitors and have had little contact with any other people. The Indian government and coast guard protect their right to privacy.[2]

  1. ^ "Police face-off with Sentinelese tribe as they struggle to recover slain missionary's body". News.com.au. 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Andaman & Nicobar". The Internet Archive. A&N Administration. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2017.