Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a stunning location in the Andaman district of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union territory). The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in Wandoor, Andaman, approximately 29 kilometres from Port Blair. This park is made up of 15 undeveloped islands with some of the country's most beautiful coral reefs and marine life.
HISTORY
• In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo is said to have visited the islands, and in 1867, the British used the island as a penal colony to send Indian freedom fighters and criminals for life imprisonment.
• The Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, and Andamanis, as well as the Shompens and Nicobarese, used to be the only people who lived on the islands.
• The islands are uninhabited land, despite a population of 3000 people living in 8 nearby villages according to the 1981 census.
• In 1983, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park was established to protect marine life, including corals and nesting sea turtles.
• The Marine National Park was closed to tourists in 2004 due to a tsunami that hit and damaged the area, but it has since reopened. The Mahatma Gandhi National Park's Jolly Boys and Red Skin Islands are two of the park's most popular and only tourist-accessible islands.
GEOGRAPHY
• The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in the state of Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Andaman district. The park covers a total area of 281.50 km2.
• Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a marine park named after Mahatma Gandhi. The Park is located on the south western coast of South Andaman, in the Bay of Bengal, 29 kilometres from Port Blair.
• The park's boundary runs along the coasts and some of the island between latitudes of 11°22, 06′′ and 11° 36, 34′′ N, and longitudes of 92° 30.00′′W and 92° 40.33′ E.
• There are 15 rocky islands dotting the park's landscape, which is covered in tropical forest. A tropical climate can be found in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Andaman and Nicobar.
• A vast stretch of enchanting marine waters, bushy vegetated islands, magnificent coral reefs, sparkling sandy beaches, and mangroves are all part of the area. The sandy beaches and clear water provide excellent recreational opportunities.
• In the Bay of Bengal, there are also some islands that are more isolated or weather-protected. The largest island, Tarmugli, is covered in dense mangrove vegetation, sand-covered beaches, uprooted trees, and sheet rocks. Within the park, Twins is an important turtle breeding ground.
DOMINANT FLORA
Dipterocarpous species, Terminalia species, Andaman Padauk, Andaman Bullet wood, Silk Cotton Tree, Thespesia, Pandanas, Cycas bamboos, Canes, Orchids Rhizophora, Auicennia, Herittiera, Gurjan, Bamboo, Ferns, Bruguiera, etc.
DOMINANT FAUNA
• Land mammals such as the Andaman Wild Pig, Spotted Deer, Civet, and Fruit Bat, among others.
• Birds such as the White-Bellied Sea Eagle, parakeets, Andaman Teal, Heron, Terns, Waders, Swifts, Whistling Teal, Andaman Serpeant Eagle, King Fishers, Reef Herons, Doves, Roseate Tern, Black-naped Tern, Sooty Tern, King Fishers, Small brown duck, and others.
Butterfly fishes, Sergeon fishes, Angel fishes, Parrot fishes, Parrot fishes, Bat fishes, White tip sharks, Hammerhead sharks, Start fishes, and other fishes
Green Sea, Leatherback, Hawaks Bill, Olive Ridlay, Water Monitor Lizard, Banded Sea Snake, Karit, Cobra, King Cobra, Vinake Snake, Pit vipers, Day gecko, Estuarine crocodiles, etc.
• Acropora, Pacillopora, Montipora, Leptoseris, Fungia, Forties, Tubipora, Gorgonians, and other corals
• Other flora: Sea Lily, Feather Star, Giant Clam Shell, Cowries, Trochus, Sea cucumber, Sponges, Sea anemones, and so on