Map of Great Nicobar Island |
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Bengal |
| Archipelago | Nicobar Islands |
| Area | 1,045 km2 (403.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 642 m (2,106 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Thuillier |
| Country | |
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India
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| Union territory | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 9440 (as of 2001) |
Great Nicobar (Hindi: बड़ा निकोबार, Nicobarese: टोकिओंग लोंग, Tokieong Long) is the largest of the Nicobar Islands of India, north of Sumatra. Indira Point, its southernmost tip, is also the southernmost point of India. The island of Sumatra is located to the south of Great Nicobar. The island covers 1045 km² but is sparsely inhabited, with a population of 9439, largely being covered by rainforest and known for its diverse wildlife.
The island was severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake tsunami with many deaths, and was cut off from all outside contact for more than a day.
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The island has several rivers, including the Alexandra, Amrit Kaur, Dogmar and Galathea. Virtually all rivers flow in a southern or southwesterly direction, which is indicative of the general slope of the terrain across the island. There are undulating hills throughout the island, with the main range running in a north-south orientation. Mount Thuillier, which is part of this range, has the highest elevation of any point in the Nicobars, at 642 m above sea level.[1] Indira Point was submerged in the 2004 tsunami.
The majority of the island is designated as the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve— home to many unique and endemic species of plants and animals including the Nicobar scrubfowl (Megapodius nicobariensis, a megapode bird), the Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus), the Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis umbrosa), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Giant Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Malayan box turtle, Nicobar tree shrew, reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and the giant robber crab (or coconut crab, Birgus latro).