CleanupBot II at 23:35, 13 August 2023

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Great Nicobar
| native_name = Tokieong Long
| native_name_link = Nicobarese languages
| native_name_lang = Nicobarese
| sobriquet =
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| map = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
| map_caption = Location of Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| pushpin_label_position = left
| coordinates = {{coord|7.03|N|93.8|E|region:IN-AN_type:isle_dim:50000_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| etymology =
| location = [[Bay of Bengal]]
| archipelago = [[Nicobar Islands]]
| waterbody = [[Indian Ocean]]
| total_islands = 1
| major_islands = {{hlist|Great Nicobar }}
| area_km2 = 921
| area_footnotes = <ref name="cit">{{cite web|url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|title=Islandwise Area and Population – 2011 Census|publisher=Government of Andaman}}</ref>
| rank =
| length_km =
| width_km =
| coastline_km = 202
| highest_mount = [[Mount Thullier]]
| elevation_m = 642
| country = {{flag|India}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[List of districts in India#Andaman and Nicobar (AN)|District]]
| country_admin_divisions = [[Nicobar district|Nicobar]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Island group]]
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Nicobar Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Subdivisions of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_2 = [[Great Nicobar Subdivision]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = [[Tehsils of India|Taluk]]
| country_admin_divisions_3 = Split between [[Little Nicobar]] and [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay Taluk]]
| country_largest_city = [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay]]
| country_largest_city_population = 5,740
| population = 8,067
| population_as_of = 2014
| population_footnotes =
| population_rank =
| population_rank_max =
| density_km2 = 8.8
| density_rank =
| density_footnotes =
| ethnic_groups = [[Hindustani people|Hindustani]], [[punjabis|punjabi]], [[Nicobarese people|Nicobarese]] [[shompen]], [[malays (ethnic group)|malay]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 744301
| area_code = 03192
| website = {{URL|http://www.and.nic.in/}}
| iso_code_type = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO code]]
| iso_code = IN-AN-00<ref>Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code</ref>
|additional_info = {{Infobox|child=yes
| label2 = Literacy | data2 = 84.4%
| label3 = Avg. summer temperature| data3 ={{convert|32.0|°C|°F}}
| label4 = Avg. winter temperature| data4 ={{convert|28.0|°C|°F}}
| label5 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]| data5 =[[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| label7 = Census Code| data7 = 35.638.0002
| label8 = Official Languages| data8 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[English language|English]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] <br /> [[Southern Nicobarese language|Southern Nicobarese]] (regional)
}}
}}

'''Great Nicobar''' is the southernmost and largest of the [[Nicobar Islands]] of [[India]], north of [[Sumatra]].

==History==
Great Nicobar Island was severely affected by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] [[tsunami]] with many deaths, and was cut off from all outside contact for more than a day.

==Geography==
The island of [[Sumatra]] is located {{convert|180|km|abbr=on}} to the south of Great Nicobar. The island covers {{convert|921|km2|abbr=on}}
but is sparsely inhabited, with a population of 8067, largely being covered by [[rainforest]] and known for its diverse [[wildlife]].

==Demography==
The island is home to the [[Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve]], [[Indira Point]] – the southernmost point of India and [[INS Baaz]] [[naval air station]] near [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay]] under the joint-services [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] (ANC) of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name=hindu-campbell-bay>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3707955.ece|title=Naval air station opened in Campbell Bay|work=The Hindu|date=31 July 2012}}</ref> It is the southernmost air station of the Indian Armed Forces.<ref name=toi-ins-baaz>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-01/india/32980434_1_indian-ocean-region-air-station-kamorta|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126115124/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-01/india/32980434_1_indian-ocean-region-air-station-kamorta|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=INS Baaz to keep hawk eye on threats in Indian Ocean Region|date=1 August 2012}}</ref>

The island is home to the [[Shompen people]].<ref>{{cite journal | title=Molecular insights into the origins of the Shompen, a declining population of the Nicobar archipelago | doi=10.1007/s10038-005-0349-2 | first1=Rajni | last1=Trivedi | first2=T. | last2=Sitalaximi | first3=Jheelam |last3=Banerjee | first4=Anamika | last4=Singh | first5=P. K. | last5=Sircar | first6=V. K. | last6=Kashyap | work=Journal of Human Genetics | volume=51 | pages=217–226 | date=March 2006 | issue=3 | pmid=16453062| doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Topography ==
The island has several rivers, including the [[Alexandra River|Alexandra]], Amrit Kaur, Dogmar and Galathea. Virtually all rivers flow in a southern or southwesterly direction, which is indicative of the general slope of the terrain across the island. There are undulating hills throughout the island, with the main range running in a north-south orientation. [[Mount Thullier]], which is part of this range, has the highest elevation of any point in the Nicobars, at 642 m above [[sea level]].<ref name="shashi1997">{{Citation | title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes | author=Shyam Singh Shashi | year=2005 | publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd | isbn=81-7041-836-4 | url=https://books.google.com/?id=pQh48ov8BrwC | quote=''... The main hill range runs from the north to south. Average height of the hills is 300m to 400m. The highest peak is Mount Thullier ...''}}</ref>

[[Indira Point]] (6°45’10″N and 93°49’36″E) is the southernmost point of the Great Nicobar Island and India itself. Indira Point subsided 4.25 m in the 26 December 2004 tsunami and the lighthouse there was damaged. The lighthouse was subsequently made functional.

== Fauna ==
The majority of the island is designated as the [[Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve]]— home to many unique and [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] species of plants and animals including the [[Nicobar scrubfowl]] (''Megapodius nicobariensis'', a [[megapode]] bird), the [[edible-nest swiftlet]] (''Aerodramus fuciphagus''), the [[Nicobar long-tailed macaque]] (''Macaca fascicularis umbrosa''), [[saltwater crocodile]] (''Crocodylus porosus''), [[leatherback sea turtle|giant leatherback sea turtle]] (''Dermochelys coriacea''), [[Malayan box turtle]], [[Nicobar tree shrew]], [[reticulated python]] (''Python reticulatus'') and the [[coconut crab|giant robber crab]] (or coconut crab, ''Birgus latro'').

== Transportation ==
There is a 915m airstrip at Campbell Bay/Tenlaa on the East coast.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/missing-malaysia-airlines-mh370-deliberately-diverted-towards-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-list-of-unused-airports-where-the-plane-possibly-landed-photos-543391 | title=Missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 'Deliberately Diverted' Towards Andaman and Nicobar Islands: List of Unused Airports Where the Plane Possibly Landed [Photos]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://airportguide.com/airport/India/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands/Campbell_Bay-VO94/runways.php | title= Runways – Campbell Bay Airport Campbell Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India}}</ref>
* Seaport: At least one small shipping dock is located in Campbell Bay.

==Indira Point==
{{See also | Preparis}}
[[Indira Point]] is the name of the southernmost point of Republic of [[India]]. It is situated on [[Great Nicobar]] Island in the [[Nicobar Islands]], which are located in the eastern [[Indian Ocean]] at 6°45’10″N and 93°49’36″E. This is not on the Indian mainland, but within the [[Union Territory]] of [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. The name of the point was changed from '''Pygmalion Point''' on 18 October 1985<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.andamantourguide.com/danish-island-in-andaman-dr-diwan-singhs-spy-case-pygmalion-point-at-great-nicobar-lic-in-portblair/ | title=Memories of Andaman and Nicobar Island on 18th October | access-date=29 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202093323/http://www.andamantourguide.com/danish-island-in-andaman-dr-diwan-singhs-spy-case-pygmalion-point-at-great-nicobar-lic-in-portblair/ | archive-date=2 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> in commemoration of [[Indira Gandhi]]. It was formerly known by various names that include Pygmalion Point, Parsons Point, and for a brief period India Point.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9dNOT9iYxcMC&pg=PA1209 | title=Concise Encyclopaedia of India | page=1209 | first1=K.R. | last1=Gupta |first2=Amita |last2=Gupta | isbn=81-269-0640-5}}</ref>

It is located 540 km and more than a day's sea voyage from Port Blair,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WEztW7c0CqQC&pg=PA6| last=Sharma | first=A.N. | title=Tribal Development in Andaman Islands | isbn=81-7625-347-2 | page=6}}</ref> the capital city and main port of the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. It is approximately 163 km by sea from Sumatra, Indonesia.<ref name="encyc" /> [[Rondo Island]], Indonesia's northernmost island in [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang]] district of [[Aceh]] province of [[Sumatra]], lies south of Indira point.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/2012/05/rondo-island-the-rich-uninhabited-island/ |title=Rondo Island, The Rich Uninhabited Island |access-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103172516/http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/2012/05/rondo-island-the-rich-uninhabited-island/ |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> India and Indonesia are planning to collaborate to construct a port at [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang]] to protect the channel between Great Nicobar Island and Rondo Island (c. May 2019).<ref name=portbuild1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-seeks-to-aid-indonesia-in-developing-port-in-aceh/articleshow/64214909.cms India seeks to aid Indonesia in developing port in Aceh], [[The Economic Times|Economic Times]], 19 May 2018.</ref>

===Indira Point lighthouse===
Indira Point has a 35 m high cast iron (with red and white bands) lighthouse with 16 nautical miles range. The lighthouse has (RACON (Code 'G') ii DGPS station) with a 300 mm 4 panel revolving light inside a 2.5 m diameter lantern house (BBT). It is an important landmark on the international shipping lane Colombo-Singapore route via Malacca Strait that passes south of Indira Point. It also has a helipad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dgllnoida.gov.in/anthaman/Indira.html |title=Welcome to INDIRA POINT LIGHT HOUSE |publisher=Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships |access-date=26 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303012836/http://www.dgllnoida.gov.in/anthaman/INDIRA.html |archive-date=3 March 2013 }}</ref>

===2004 tsunami===
The [[tsunami]] which resulted from the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean earthquake of 2004]] inundated much of the area. This partly damaged the [[lighthouse]], which subsided 4.25 m.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cires.colorado.edu/~bilham/IndonesiAndaman2004_files/IndiraPointSubsidence.htm | title=Indira Point Lighthouse Subsidence 2004–2005 | first=Roger | last=Bilham}}</ref> As a result of this subsidence, the coast retreated and the sea moved permanently inland. The lighthouse has since been repaired.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/05/22/defunct-indira-point-lighthouse-racon-repaired-1179813885.html | title=Defunct Indira Point Lighthouse RACON repaired | publisher=oneindia.in | access-date=26 December 2012}}</ref>

The base of the lighthouse was 5 m above sea level when constructed in 1972. After the tsunami, the sea rose and the base was less than a metre above the sea level, showing over 4 meters of sea floor subsidence. It has been observed that the sea is slowly retreating back to its original position and the subsidence has decreased as the ocean floor slowly bounces back partially, a similar drop and rise due to crustal decompression and re compression was observed in the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] on Honshu. Indira point was mostly submerged.

== See also ==

* [[Andaman Sea]]
* [[INS Baaz]]
* [[List of extreme points of India]]
* [[Extreme points of Indonesia]]

==Image gallery==
<gallery widths=180>
File:Map of Nicobar Islands-en.png|Map
File:GreatNicobarMap.jpg|Map of Great Nicobar Island
File:Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Great Nicobar.PNG|Locator
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category|Great Nicobar}}
*[http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/03tsunami2.htm "Nicobar completely devastated" – from rediff.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721170155/http://police.and.nic.in/great_nicobar.htm 2001 Census – from the Andaman & Nicobar Police]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060208095618/http://forest.and.nic.in/frst-great%20nicobar%20biosphere%20reserve1.htm Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve]
*{{Wikivoyage-inline|Andaman and Nicobar Islands}}
{{Nicobar district |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Nicobar Island}}
[[Category:Great Nicobar Island| ]]
[[Category:Islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Nicobar district]]
[[Category:Tehsils of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]

Great Nicobar Island - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 23:35, 13 August 2023