Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (M.G.M.N.P)
IUCN category II (national park)
This is the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Its popularly known as "Jolly buoy" islands.
Location	Andaman Islands, India
Nearest city	Wandur
Area	281.5 km2 (108.7 sq mi)
Established	1983

PIN744103^[2]Telephone code031927 ^[3]Official websitewww.andamans.gov.in/Brochures/ef/MGMNP.pdfCensus Code35.639.0004Official LanguagesHindi, English

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.^[4]

History

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.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  Island dock
• 
  Jolly bouy beach
• 
  Sea of glass in the island
• 
  Beachside view
• 
  White sand beach in the island

Geography

There are 2 major island groups in the park: the Labyrinth Islands and the Twin Islands. The islands are situated 16 km (10 mi) 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.^[6][7][8] The islands belong to the Rutland Archipelago and are located between Rutland Island and South Andaman Island.

Ecosystems of the 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.^[9] Twin Islands are an important breeding ground for turtles within the park.

List of Islands

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	11°34′36″N 92°36′38″E / 11.57667°N 92.61056°E / 11.57667; 92.61056	408.8	9.3	2.5	2.00	0.00
2	Bell		island	11°34′08″N 92°33′57″E / 11.56889°N 92.56583°E / 11.56889; 92.56583	6.7	1	0.38	0.21	0.00
3	Boat		island	11°31′35″N 92°33′38″E / 11.52639°N 92.56056°E / 11.52639; 92.56056	247.6	7.71	2.7	1.3	27.00
4	Chester		island	11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.58611	6.6	1.00	0.33	0.33	0.00
5	Grub		island	11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.58611	2.3	0.7	0.13	0.25	24.00
6	Hobday		island	11°32′40″N 92°36′42″E / 11.54444°N 92.61167°E / 11.54444; 92.61167	367.80	10.50	3.23	1.91	0.00
7	Jolly Buoy		island	11°30′26″N 92°36′41″E / 11.50722°N 92.61139°E / 11.50722; 92.61139	18.80	2.50	1.10	0.20	45.00
8	Malay		island	11°31′48″N 92°36′12″E / 11.53000°N 92.60333°E / 11.53000; 92.60333	80.20	4.25	1.71	0.61	68.00
9	Pluto		island	11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.58611	13.3	1.81	0.75	0.22	49.00
10	Red Skin		island	11°33′00″N 92°35′30″E / 11.55000°N 92.59167°E / 11.55000; 92.59167	428.20	12.39	4.9	1.4	46.00
11	Riflemen		island	11°30′50″N 92°38′40″E / 11.51389°N 92.64444°E / 11.51389; 92.64444	2.40	0.70	0.27	0.15	0.00
12	Snob		island	11°35′55″N 92°34′27″E / 11.59861°N 92.57417°E / 11.59861; 92.57417	17.65	2.18	0.96	0.26	75.00
13	Tarmugli		island	11°34′30″N 92°33′00″E / 11.57500°N 92.55000°E / 11.57500; 92.55000	1216.70	20.00	5.5	3.8	78.00
14	West Twin		island	11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.58611	38.70	0.00	0.00	0.00	48.00
15	East Twin		island	11°33′06″N 92°35′10″E / 11.55167°N 92.58611°E / 11.55167; 92.58611	20.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	44.00
16	North Hobday		island	11°33′30″N 92°36′30″E / 11.55833°N 92.60833°E / 11.55833; 92.60833	17.80	1.93	0.00	0.00	0.00
17	Rutland		island	11°33′38″N 92°35′55″E / 11.56056°N 92.59861°E / 11.56056; 92.59861	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
18	?		island	11°32′22″N 92°35′02″E / 11.53944°N 92.58389°E / 11.53944; 92.58389	10.10	1.77	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park Islands		Archipelago	11°32′22″N 92°35′02″E / 11.53944°N 92.58389°E / 11.53944; 92.58389	2904.5				0.00

Administration

Politically, all islands are part of Port Blair Taluk.^[10]

Demographics

The islands are on uninhabited land, but there is a population of 6237 living in 6 adjacent villages (mainly Manglutan and Wandoor)

Image gallery

• 
  Jolly Buoy Island, one of the 20 islands in the national park.
• 
  Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Port Blair, Andaman Islands
• 
  Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park during sunset .

References

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Information about Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
• 11 Status of Coral Reefs of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor, Andamans by K Dorairaj and R. Soundararajan