Bitra

Bitra
ബിത്ര
Bitra
ബിത്ര

Location of Bitra in Lakshadweep

Geography
Location Arabian Sea
Coordinates 11°33′N 72°09′E / 11.550°N 72.150°E / 11.550; 72.150Coordinates: 11°33′N 72°09′E / 11.550°N 72.150°E / 11.550; 72.150
Archipelago Lakshadweep
Adjacent bodies of water Indian Ocean
Total islands 2
Major islands
  • Bitra
  • South Cay    
Area 0.187 km2 (0.072 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Administration
Territory Union territory of Lakshadweep
District Lakshadweep
Island group Aminidivi
Tehsils of India Aminidivi
Subdivisions of India Bitra
Demographics
Demonym Malayali
Population 278 (2016)
Pop. density 1,570 /km2 (4,070 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Malayali, Mahls
Additional information
Time zone
PIN 682555
Telephone code 04890
Official website lakshadweep.nic.in/island_web/Bitra/index.htm
ISO Code IN-LD-07[2]
Literacy 84.4%
Avg. summer temperature 32.0 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 28.0 °C (82.4 °F)
Sex ratio 57%♂/♀
unit_pref Metric

Bitra (Malayalam: ബിത്ര), also known as Bitrā Par, is a coral atoll belonging to the Amindivi Subgroup of islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India.[3] It has a distance of 1,958 km (1,217 mi) south of the city of Delhi.

History

Prior to the 20th century islanders from Kiltan and Chetlat visited the island to collect the eggs of pelagic birds breeding there. Until 1945, when a woman from Chetlat made this island her home, there were no attempts to settle this island permanently.[4] There is a small shrine dedicated to an old Arab saint by the name of Malik Mulla who was buried on the island. The shrine has become a site of pilgrimage.[5]

Geography

The Atoll of Bitra encompases two islands. The main Bitra Island 0.177 km2 (0.068 sq mi) is located at the northern end of the Bitrā Par coral reef 11°35′53″N 72°11′13″E / 11.598°N 72.187°E / 11.598; 72.187.[6] The small south cay 0.009 km2 (0.0035 sq mi)is located on the southern part of the coral reef 11°31′26″N 72°10′34″E / 11.524°N 72.176°E / 11.524; 72.176. Bitra is one of the populated islands of Lakshadweep. It is located 33 km to the north of Perumal Par and 41 km to the southeast of Byramgore Reef.[7] The Bitra Par lagoon area is 54.61 km2 (21.09 sq mi).

Population

The 2011 census determined that only 271 people made this island their home, making it one of the least populated among the inhabited islands in Lakshadweep.[8]

Administration

The atoll belongs to the township of Bitra of Aminidivi Tehsil.[9]

Transportation

The Main island has a small jetty on the south shore and a helipad on the westpoint.

Economics

The inhabitants on the island are engaged in very small scale farming and fishing which are mainly for the island consumption.

Image gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Lakshadweep. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-22.
  2. ↑ Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  3. ↑ Hydrographic Description (Indian Ocean Pilot)
  4. ↑ Bitra Island, Lakshadweep
  5. ↑ MGNREGS - Bitra Island
  6. ↑ "Oceandots - Bitrā Par". Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  7. ↑ Birds of Lakshadweep Islands
  8. ↑ Lakshadweep - Five Year Plan
  9. ↑ Tehsils info

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bitra.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.