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 means "pit of hell", although this may be the result of confusion between it and Barren Island.
Narcondam Island holds the easternmost point of the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Narcondam Island's mountain, at 710 meters is the second tallest point in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the first being
Saddie Peak,
North Andaman Island at 738 meters.
Narcondam Hornbill
Main article: Narcondam HornbillThe
Narcondam Hornbill is an
endangered,
threatened,
hornbill that is currently presiding on Narcondam Island. The
Narcondam Island Wildlife Sanctuary is currently monitoring the bird.
See also
