| Narcondam Island | |
|---|---|
Outline map of the Andaman Islands, with the location of Narcondam Island highlighted (red circle). |
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| Elevation | 710 m (2,329 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | Andaman Islands, India |
| Geology | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Narcondam or Narcondum is a small volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea. Its central peak rises some 710 m above mean sea level, and is formed of andesite. It is considered to be part of the Andaman Islands, the main body of which lie approximately 114 km to the west. The island is part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island is small, approximately 3 km×4 km. It was classified as a dormant volcano by the Geological Survey of India.
The island is formed from a volcano, which had not known to have been active in recent times, until on June 8, 2005 there were reports of "mud and smoke" being ejected from the volcano. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake is thought to have caused magma to move underground and may be related to the current activity. If the reports were accurate this would alter the scientific status of Narcondam to active. Further to the south west (approximately 150 km) lies the active volcano island of Barren Island. Narcondam Island is about 160 miles from Burma, is about 160 miles from Port Blair, and is almost 800 miles from Vishakhapatnam (part of the mainland of India).
The name Narcondam could have been derived from the Sanskrit naraka-kundam,[1] meaning "a pit of Hell," although this may be the result of confusion between it and Barren Island.[2]
Narcondam Island holds the easternmost point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Until 1986 Burma claimed sovereignty over the island. This claim was given up on reaching agreement with India on the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two nations in the Andaman Sea, the Coco channel and the Bay of Bengal.[3]
Narcondam Island's mountain, at 710 meters is the second tallest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the first being Saddle Peak, North Andaman Island at 732 meters.
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Main article: Narcondam Hornbill
The Narcondam Hornbill is an endangered hornbill that is endemic to the island of Narcondam. This bird is said to have evolved separately from the Wreathed Hornbill found in North-East India. The Narcondam Island Wildlife Sanctuary is currently monitoring the bird.