Interview Island (WLS)
History
The lighthouse on the island was affected by the tsunami generated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake which inundated much of its area. The lighthouse was reported as "completely destroyed" at the time, but it was later repaired. Until 2015 there was a wildlife station to monitor birds, with permanent inhabitants located on the west coast near the lighthouse. The station is also staffed with a lighthouse keeper (from the police). It was evacuated at the end of 2015 due to its budget being discontinued.
Geography
The island belongs to the Interview Group and is situated to the west of Austen Strait which separates North Andaman Island and Middle Andaman Island. It has an area of 101 km (39 sq mi). The island is low at its north end, but rises gradually to a height of 113 m (371 ft). The highest part of the island is a wooded plateau. A rocky pinnacle, 7 m (23 ft) high, lies close off a cliff on the south end of the island. Foul ground extends about 2 miles (3.2 km) north-northeast from the island.
Fauna
The island has about 80–90 feral elephants which were brought for forestry works, and still remain on this island.. The more likely number of Elephants is probably closer to a dozen or so individuals
Administration
Politically, Interview Island, along with the neighbouring Interview Group of islands, is part of Mayabunder Taluk, a sub-district of India.
Transportation
Travel to the island is by dinghy through Austen Strait from Mayabunder, taking 3 hours.
Demographics
There is only one village, located at the eastern part of the island. According to the 2011 census of India, the island has only one household. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 100%.
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Children aged below 6 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The island was opened to tourists in the year 1997, it is entirely abandoned. Just a few forest wardens, policemen and coast guards are posted here in order to keep poachers at a safe distance.
References
- ^ "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Andaman.
- ^ Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 173: India and the Bay of Bengal (PDF). Sailing Directions. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 276.
- ^ "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar". allcodesindia.in. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
- ^ "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ^ Lighthouses in Andaman & Nicobar and the 26 Dec 2004 earthquake
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ "map with lighthouse location". Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ "Government of India, Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships". www.dgll.nic.in. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ visit
- ^ pic 1
- ^ "Elephants brought to the Andaman Islands for logging have now become a feral, invasive species". www.scroll.in. Scroll.in. 28 July 2024.
- ^ "DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS" (PDF). andssw1.and.nic.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ forest station village pic
- ^ "District Census Handbook - Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). 2011 Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ guide
- Geological Survey of India
Andaman and Nicobar Islands travel guide from Wikivoyage
www.andamanicobarisland.com