Interview Island

Interview Island
Interview Island

Location of Interview Island

Geography
Location Bay of Bengal
Coordinates 12°53′N 92°42′E / 12.88°N 92.70°E / 12.88; 92.70Coordinates: 12°53′N 92°42′E / 12.88°N 92.70°E / 12.88; 92.70
Archipelago Andaman Islands
Adjacent bodies of water Indian Ocean
Total islands 1
Major islands
  • Interview     
Area 101 km2 (39 sq mi)[1]
Length 23 km (14.3 mi)
Width 6.9 km (4.29 mi)
Coastline 66.0 km (41.01 mi)
Highest elevation 113 m (371 ft)[2]
Administration
District North and Middle Andaman
Island group Andaman Islands
Island sub-group Interview Group
Taluk Mayabunder Taluk
Largest settlement
Interview village
Demographics
Demonym Hindi
Population 16 (2011)
Pop. density 0.158 /km2 (0.409 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Hindu, Andamanese
Additional information
Time zone
PIN 744202[3]
Telephone code 031927 [4]
Official website www.and.nic.in
ISO Code IN-AN-00[5]
Literacy 84.4%
Avg. summer temperature 30.2 °C (86.4 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 23.0 °C (73.4 °F)
Sex ratio 1.2/
unit_pref Metric
Census Code 35.639.0004
Official Languages Hindi, English

Interview Island is an island of the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the North and Middle Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[6] the island is lying 125 km (78 mi) north from Port Blair.

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,[7] but it was later repaired.[8] [9] [10] Until 2015, there was a wildlife station to monitor birds, with permanent inhabitants, located on the west coast near the lighthouse. The station also had a manned lighthouse keeper (from the police). it was evacuated at the end of 2015 due to budget discontinued. [11]

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 km2 The island is low at its N end, but rises gradually to a height of 113m. The highest part of the island is a wooded plateau. A rocky pinnacle, 7m high, lies close off a cliff on the S end of the island. Foul ground extends about 2 miles NNE from the island.[12]

Fauna

The island has about 80-90 feral elephants which were brought for forestry works, and still remain on this island.

Administration

Politically, Interview Island, along neighboring Interview Group Islands, is part of Mayabunder Taluk.[13]

Transportation

One can travel by dinghy through Austen Strait from Mayabunder, on demand (takes 3 hours).

Demographics

There is only 1 village, located at the eastern part of the island.[14] According to the 2011 census of India, the Island has 1 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 100%.[15]

Demographics (2011 Census)[15]
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. [16]

References

  1. "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Andaman.
  2. "Sailing Directions (enroute) | India and the Bay of Bengal" (PDF) (173). National Geospatial-intelligence Agency, United States Government. 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  3. "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  4. "STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar". allcodesindia.in. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  5. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  6. "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  7. Lighthouses in Andaman & Nicobar and the 26 Dec 2004 earthquake
  8. Lighthouses of India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  9. map with lighthouse location
  10. "Government of India, Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships.". www.dgll.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  11. visit
  12. pic 1
  13. "DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS" (PDF). andssw1.and.nic.in. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  14. forest station village pic
  15. 1 2 "District Census Handbook - Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). 2011 Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  16. guide
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