ANDAMAN ISLANDS

island group, Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory, India, in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. The Andamans constitute one of the two major groups of islands in the union territory. They include more than 300 islands (26 inhabited), with a land area of 2,474 square miles (6,408 square km). The three major islands are North Andaman, Middle Andaman, and South Andaman (closely positioned and collectively known as Great Andaman). Also prominent is Little Andaman, to the south. Of the original inhabitants, only the Jarawa and Onge, on the islands of South Andaman, Rutland, and Little Andaman, retain a traditional hunting-and-gathering way of life. The Andamans, situated on the ancient trade route between India and Myanmar (Burma), were visited by Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the Bombay Marine (the East India Company's navy) in 1789. The first European settlement on the islands was at Port Blair, situated along the eastern coast of South Andaman. It is now the union territory capital. The islands are a succession of dome-shaped hill ranges running parallel to each other from north to south. The highest peak is Saddle, at 2,418 feet (737 m), on North Andaman. Flat land is scarce and confined to a few valleys, such as the Bitampur and Diglipur. The islands are formed of Tertiary sandstone, limestone, and shale and are highly dissected. Their surface is covered with dense forest, and large mangrove swamps occur in the northern part of North Andaman. Perennial rivers are few, and adequate water supply is a continuing problem. Agriculture is the principal occupation; crops include cereals, pulses (legumes), coconuts, betel nuts, fruits, cassava, chilies, and turmeric. There is little industry. Only South Andaman has roads; an interisland steamer service connects Port Blair with North, Middle, South, and Little Andaman. Vinayak Damodar (Vir) Savarkar, the great Indian revolutionary, was imprisoned for life (191137) in the Cellular Jail (declared a national monument in 1979) in Port Blair. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 240,089.