About Great Nicobar Island:
- It is the largest and southernmost island of the Nicobar group in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- It is separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.
- Geographically, the island is closer to Sumatra, Indonesia, than to mainland India, emphasizing its remote and strategic location.
- It is also home to Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
- Mount Thullier is the highest peak.
- Galathea, Alexandra, and Dagmar are the major rivers.
- It remains sparsely populated, with dense tropical rainforests covering more than 85% of its area.
- The major tribes in Great Nicobar Island are the Shompens and the Nicobarese.
- It is home to the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site.
- Flora and Fauna:
- It houses species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, bryophytes, and lichens, among others.
- The tract is rich in plant diversity and fosters a number of rare and endemic species, including Cyathea albosetacea (tree fern) and Phalaenopsis speciosa (orchid).
- The well-known Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles and Reticulated Python are endemic and/or endangered.
