LAKSHADWEEP
– GEOGRAPHY
News:
PM Modi goes snorkelling
in Lakshadweep, calls it ‘exhilarating experience’
What's
in the news?
●
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went
snorkelling to explore the undersea life during his recent visit to Laskhadweep
islands.
Key
takeaways:
●
PM Modi posted pictures of his undersea
exploration on X and shared his "exhilarating experience" of the
sojourn in the islands located in the Arabian Sea.
Lakshadweep:
●
Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of twelve
atolls, three reefs, and five submerged banks, making a total of
approximately thirty-six islands and islets.
●
The
atolls have a northeast–southwest orientation, and the islands are typically
located on the eastern rim.
●
The western rim of the atolls features
mostly submerged reefs, enclosing a lagoon. Some of the reefs are also atolls,
with small unvegetated sand cays above the high-water mark.
●
The region includes five submerged banks,
which are described as sunken atolls.
Islands
of Lakshadweep:
●
Lakshadweep comprises ten inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands and attached islets.
Additionally, there are four newly formed islets and five submerged reefs.
●
The main islands are Kavaratti, Agatti,
Minicoy, and Amini.
9-degree
Channel:
●
The 9-degree channels separate Minicoy and Lakshadweep.
Biodiversity
Significance:
●
The Lakshadweep Archipelago, along with
the Maldives and the Chagos, forms the Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago
tropical moist forests eco-region.
●
The region boasts a diverse marine
ecosystem with over 600 species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals, 82
species of seaweed, 52 species of crabs, 2 species of lobsters, 48 species of
gastropods, 12 species of bivalves, and 101 species of birds.
Coral
Island:
●
Lakshadweep is one of the four coral reef
regions in India, and the corals are a major attraction for tourists.
Pitti
Bird Sanctuary:
●
Pitti Island is identified as an important
breeding place for sea turtles and
several pelagic birds, including the
brown noddy, lesser crested tern,
and greater crested tern. The island has been declared a bird sanctuary.
Cetacean
Diversity:
●
The region exhibits higher cetacean
diversity compared to other areas, including various whales (e.g., pygmy blue, Bryde's, sperm), smaller cetaceans (e.g.,
orca, pilot whale), and dolphins. However, a lack of scientific study has
resulted in poor understanding and conservation efforts.
Absence
of Forest:
●
The region does not have a rich flora, and
most plants can be found on the mainland of India. There is an absence of
forests in the area.
Agriculture:
●
Coconut
is highlighted as the sole crop of economic importance in Lakshadweep.