Andaman and Nicobar Islands Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas
a union territory of forested volcanic and coral islands scattered across the Bay of Bengal
10
Protected areas mapped
2
Rivers mapped
At a glance
Capital
Port Blair
Language
Hindi, English
Dance
Nicobari
Area
8,249 km²
Coastline
~1,962 km
Highest peak
Saddle Peak · 732 m
Why UPSC asks about Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andamans are volcanic-and-coral islands of the Bay of Bengal: Barren Island (India's only active volcano), Saddle Peak (North Andaman's high point), and the Ten Degree Channel separating them from the Nicobars. UPSC tests island geography (Indira Point, Duncan Passage), tribal protections (Sentinelese, Great Andamanese), and strategic geography of the Malacca approaches.
Galathea
Rises Mount Thuillier massif, Great Nicobar; flows to Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar · 32 km
The main river of Great Nicobar; its bay is the site of the Galathea Bay wildlife sanctuary.
Kalpong
Rises Saddle Peak range, North Andaman; flows to Aerial Bay, North Andaman · 18 km
The Kalpong hosts the Andamans' only hydroelectric project.
Great Nicobar Biosphere
A biosphere reserve covering most of Great Nicobar island, India's southernmost biosphere reserve, with tropical rainforests, coastal mangroves, and endemic species like the Nicobar megapode and Nicobar tree shrew.
India's southernmost biosphere reserve; Nicobar megapode and giant robber crab.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP
A marine national park near Port Blair around the Wandoor archipelago of 15 islands, protecting coral reefs, sea turtles and mangroves, a popular glass-bottom-boat destination.
Wandoor's 15 islands; coral reefs and sea turtles.
Mount Harriet NP
A park on Mount Harriet (Manipur Parbat), the Andamans' third-highest peak near Port Blair, with evergreen forest, the Andaman wild pig and saltwater crocodiles in its creeks.
Mount Harriet near Port Blair; Andaman wild pig.
Rani Jhansi Marine NP
A marine park in the Ritchie's Archipelago east of Port Blair, with fringing reefs, dugong sightings and nesting sea turtles.
Ritchie's Archipelago; dugong and turtle habitat.
Campbell Bay NP
A park in Great Nicobar at India's southernmost point, with tropical rainforest, the Nicobar megapode, the giant robber crab and nesting leatherback turtles.
Great Nicobar's southern tip; Nicobar megapode and leatherbacks.
Galathea Bay NP
A park on Great Nicobar's southern coast, a critical nesting beach for the giant leatherback turtle.
Great Nicobar; a key leatherback turtle nesting beach.
Saddle Peak NP
A park around Saddle Peak, the Andamans' highest point (732 m) in North Andaman, with humid evergreen forest rich in endemic birds.
Contains Saddle Peak, the Andamans' highest point.
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