NICOBAR ISLANDS

island group, Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory, India. The islands lie in the Bay of Bengal and have a land area of 711 square miles (1,841 square km). With the nearby Andaman Islands, they constitute a union territory of India (see Andaman and Nicobar Islands). The Nicobar group includes the islands of Car Nicobar (north), Camorta (Kamorta) and Nancowry (central group), and Great Nicobar (south). Though very little is known about the islands' earliest history, the Thanjavur inscription (1050) of the Cola dynasty describes the land as Nakkavaram (Land of the Naked). Danish missionaries visited the islands in 1756. In 186988 they were claimed by the British, who established a penal colony there. The islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Car Nicobar is flat with rich, fertile soils; Nancowry, Camorta, and Great Nicobar are hilly. The highest peak is Mount Thullier, rising to 2,106 feet (642 m) on Great Nicobar. The islands are densely forested with coconut, betel nut, pandanus, mango, margosa, and casuarina. The population consists mostly of two ethnic groups, the Nicobarese and the Shompens. Agriculture is the principal occupation; crops include rice, corn (maize), fruits, vegetables, coconuts, and betel nuts. Copra making and oil pressing are the chief industries. The only important town is on Car Nicobar. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 39,022.