Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (M.G.M.N.P)
Jolly Buoy Island in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
Interactive map of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (M.G.M.N.P)
LocationAndaman Islands, India
Nearest cityWandur
Area281.5 km2 (108.7 sq mi)
Established1983
Labyrinth Islands
Nickname: North Mahatma Gandhi Islands
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Location within Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Geography
LocationBay of Bengal
Coordinates11°32′N 92°36′E / 11.53°N 92.60°E / 11.53; 92.60
ArchipelagoAndaman Islands
Adjacent toIndian Ocean
Total islands17
Major islands
  • Boat
  • Red Skin    
Area29.043 km2 (11.214 sq mi)land area
Highest elevation78 m (256 ft)[1]
Highest pointTarmugli Island
Administration
DistrictSouth Andaman
Island groupAndaman Islands
Island sub-groupRutland Archipelago
TehsilPort Blair Tehsil
Largest settlementJolly Buoy Beach
Demographics
Population0 (2011)
Additional information
Time zone
PIN744103[2]
Telephone code031927 [3]
Official websitewww.andamans.gov.in/Brochures/ef/MGMNP.pdf
Census Code35.639.0004
Official LanguagesHindi, English

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park in India, near Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[4]

History

The park was created on 24 May 1983 under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 to protect marine life such as the corals and nesting sea turtles prevalent in the area. It was placed under the protection of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the forest department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The open creeks running through the park area were a special attraction.[5]

Geography

The park is located about 20 km southwest of Port Blair, in the marine area west of the islands of South Andaman and Rutland. There are two major island groups in the park: the Labyrinth Islands and the Twin Islands.

The marine park covers 281.5 km2 made up of 17 islands and the sea channels running through the area. There are ecotourism businesses operating to the islands of Jolly Buoy and Red Skin.[6][7][8]

Ecosystems of the islands

Most of the coral reefs in the park are fringing reefs. The type and composition of vegetation varies from island to island. Most notably there you can see a difference between the tourist islands which suffer more anthropocentric change and others which do not. There are also some islands more isolated or protected from the effects of weather in the Bay of Bengal. Tarmugli, the largest island, is covered with thick mangrove vegetation, sand covered beaches, uprooted trees and sheet rocks.[9] Twin Islands are an important breeding ground for turtles within the park.

List of islands

Jolly Buoy Island, one of the 20 islands in the national park
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park during sunset

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park has some 20 islands and rocks, with a total land area of 2,904.5 hectares (7,177 acres). The islands are uninhabited.

 NameLocationArea
(hectares)		Coastline (km)Length (km)Width (km)elevation (m)
1Alexandra Island11°34′36″N 92°36′38″E / 11.57667°N 92.61056°E / 11.57667; 92.61056408.89.32.52.00
2Bell Island11°34′08″N 92°33′57″E / 11.56889°N 92.56583°E / 11.56889; 92.565836.710.380.21
3Boat Island11°31′35″N 92°33′38″E / 11.52639°N 92.56056°E / 11.52639; 92.56056247.67.712.71.327.00
4Chester Island11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.586116.61.000.330.33
5Grub Island11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.586112.30.70.130.2524.00
6Hobday Island11°32′40″N 92°36′42″E / 11.54444°N 92.61167°E / 11.54444; 92.61167367.8010.503.231.91
7Jolly Buoy Island11°30′26″N 92°36′41″E / 11.50722°N 92.61139°E / 11.50722; 92.6113918.802.501.100.2045.00
8Malay Island11°31′48″N 92°36′12″E / 11.53000°N 92.60333°E / 11.53000; 92.6033380.204.251.710.6168.00
9Pluto Island11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.5861113.31.810.750.2249.00
10Red Skin Island11°33′00″N 92°35′30″E / 11.55000°N 92.59167°E / 11.55000; 92.59167428.2012.394.91.446.00
11Riflemen Island11°30′50″N 92°38′40″E / 11.51389°N 92.64444°E / 11.51389; 92.644442.400.700.270.150.00
12Snob Island11°35′55″N 92°34′27″E / 11.59861°N 92.57417°E / 11.59861; 92.5741717.652.180.960.2675.00
13Tarmugli Island11°34′30″N 92°33′00″E / 11.57500°N 92.55000°E / 11.57500; 92.550001216.7020.005.53.878.00
14West Twin Island11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.5861138.7048.00
15East Twin Island11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.5861120.0044.00
16North Hobday Island11°33′30″N 92°36′30″E / 11.55833°N 92.60833°E / 11.55833; 92.6083317.801.93
17Rutland Island11°33′38″N 92°35′55″E / 11.56056°N 92.59861°E / 11.56056; 92.59861

Administration

Politically, all islands are part of Port Blair Taluk.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 173: India and the Bay of Bengal (PDF). Sailing Directions. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 278.
  2. ↑ "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar". allcodesindia.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park". www.indiatravelnext.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Red Skin Island in Andaman and Nicobar, About Red Skin Island in Andaman". www.indiatravelnext.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Jolly Buoy Island, More information, Reaching there, and boat schedules
  8. ↑ Red Skin Island
  9. ↑ Tarmugli
  10. ↑ "DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS" (PDF). andssw1.and.nic.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
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