Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Union territory (pop., 2008 est.: 411,000), India. It consists of two groups of islands in the Bay of Bengal about 800 mi (1,300 km) east of the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka; the total area is 3,185 sq mi (8,249 sq km). The chief islands are North Andaman, Middle Andaman, and South Andaman (known collectively as Great Andaman), and Little Andaman. The Nicobar group includes Car Nicobar, Camorta (Kamorta) and Nancowry, and Great Nicobar. Of the hundreds of islands that constitute the territory, the number of populated islands of the Andaman group is about double that of the Nicobar group. Port Blair on South Andaman, established by the British in 1858, is the territorial capital.