| Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (M.G.M.N.P) | |
| Iucn Category: | II |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Andaman Islands, India |
| Nearest City: | Wandur |
| Area Km2: | 281.5 |
| Established: | 1983 |
| Labyrinth Islands | |
| Sobriquet: | North Mahatma Gandhi Islands |
| Map: | India Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| Coordinates: | 11.53°N 92.6°W |
| Location: | Bay of Bengal |
| Archipelago: | Andaman Islands |
| Waterbody: | Indian Ocean |
| Area Km2: | 29.043 |
| Area Footnotes: | land area |
| Elevation M: | 78 |
| Highest Mount: | Tarmugli Island |
| Country: |  India |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | District |
| Country Admin Divisions: | South Andaman |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Island group |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Andaman Islands |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Island sub-group |
| Country Admin Divisions 2: | Rutland Archipelago |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 3: | Tehsil |
| Country Admin Divisions 3: | Port Blair Tehsil |
| Country Largest City: | Jolly Buoy Beach |
| Population: | 0 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code: | 744103[1] |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | 031927 [2] |
| Additional Info: | |
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park in India, near Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[3]
The park was created on 24 May 1983 under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 protect marine life such as the corals and nesting sea turtles prevalent in the area. It was placed under the protection of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the forest department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and it is open creeks running through the park area were a special attraction.[4]
There are 2 major island groups in the park: the Labyrinth Islands and the Twin Islands.The islands are situated 16km (10miles) south from Port Blair.The marine park covers 281.5 km2 made up of 17 islands and the open sea creeks running through the area. There is a chance for ecotourism on the islands of Jolly Buoy and Red Skin.[5] [6] [7] The islands belong to the Rutland Archipelago and are located between Rutland Island and South Andaman Island.
Most of the coral reefs in the park are fringing reefs. The type and composition of vegetation vary from island to island. Most notably there you can see a difference between the tourist islands which suffer more anthropocentric change and others which do not. There are also some islands more isolated or protected from the effects of weather in the Bay of Bengal. Tarmugli, the largest island, is covered with thick mangrove vegetation, sand covered beaches, uprooted trees and sheet rocks.[8] Twin Islands are an important breeding ground for turtles within the park.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park has some 20 islands and rocks.
| Island | Sobriquet | type | Location | Area (hectares) | Coastline (km) | Length (km) | Width (km) | elevation (m) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandra | island | 408.8 | 9.3 | aligdheersjn=right | 2.5 | 2.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 2 | Bell | island | 6.7 | 1 | 0.38 | 0.21 | 0.00 | |||
| 3 | Boat | island | 247.6 | 7.71 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 27.00 | |||
| 4 | Chester | island | 6.6 | 1.00 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | |||
| 5 | Grub | island | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.13 | 0.25 | 24.00 | |||
| 6 | Hobday | island | 367.80 | 10.50 | 3.23 | 1.91 | 0.00 | |||
| 7 | Jolly Buoy | island | 18.80 | 2.50 | 1.10 | 0.20 | 45.00 | |||
| 8 | Malay | island | 80.20 | 4.25 | 1.71 | 0.61 | 68.00 | |||
| 9 | Pluto | island | 13.3 | 1.81 | 0.75 | 0.22 | 49.00 | |||
| 10 | Red Skin | island | 428.20 | 12.39 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 46.00 | |||
| 11 | Riflemen | island | 2.40 | 0.70 | 0.27 | 0.15 | 0.00 | |||
| 12 | Snob | island | 17.65 | 2.18 | 0.96 | 0.26 | 75.00 | |||
| 13 | Tarmugli | island | 1216.70 | 20.00 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 78.00 | |||
| 14 | West Twin | island | 38.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 48.00 | |||
| 15 | East Twin | island | 20.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 44.00 | |||
| 16 | North Hobday | island | 17.80 | 1.93 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| 17 | Rutland | island | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| 18 | ? | island | 10.10 | 1.77 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Islands | Archipelago | 2904.5 | 0.00 |
Politically, all islands are part of Port Blair Taluk.[9]
The islands are on uninhabited land, but there is a population of 6237 living in 6 adjacent villages (mainly Manglutan and Wandoor)