Draft:List of islands in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep, a union territory of India, contains 36 islands and reefs officially listed by the Indian government. Lakshadweep is an archipelago with 32 km2 total area spread across twelve atolls, three reefs, and five submerged banks. The list of islands and reefs includes ten officially inhabited islands (eleven if unofficially inhabited Bangaram is included), seventeen uninhabited islands and attached islets (sixteen if Bangaram is excluded), four newly formed islets, and five submerged reefs. Lakshadweep, whose capital is Kavaratti, is a single district across all islands, with ten sub-divisions, one elected district panchayat, and 88 elected village panchayats across islands.

Inhabited islands


Each of the ten officially-inhabited islands is a subdivisional head office headed by a subdivision officer. The ten islands that are officially listed as inhabited are, from north to south:
 * Aminidivi Islands group
 * Chetlat
 * Bitra
 * Kiltan
 * Kadmat
 * Amini
 * Laccadive Islands group
 * Andrott
 * Agatti
 * Kavaratti
 * Kalpeni
 * Minicoy Islands group
 * Minicoy

Among the officially-inhabited islands, Bitra has the smallest population, recorded at 271 people during the 2011 census. Bangaram, officially listed as uninhabited, had a population of 76 during the 2011 census.

List
The Lakshadweep islands are divided into three island groups listed from north to south. The Aminidivi Islands group is in the north; the Laccadive Islands (or Cannanore Islands) group is in the middle; and the Minicoy Island (or Maliku Islands) group is in the south.

List by type of geographical features
There are 11 atolls with islands, 5 banks (sunken atoll), and 3 or 4 submerged reefs.


 * Atolls with islands (listed north to south)
 * Chetlat Atoll
 * Bitra Atoll
 * Kiltan Atoll
 * Kadmat Atoll (also known as Cardamom Atoll)
 * Amini Atoll
 * Bangaram Atoll
 * Agatti Atoll
 * Kavaratti Atoll
 * Suheli Par Atoll
 * Kalpeni Atoll
 * Minicoy Atoll (Maliku Atoll)


 * Banks i.e. sunken atolls (listed north to south)
 * Bassas de Pedro Bank
 * Coradivh Bank (also called Coradeeve Bank or Little Bassas de Pedro Bank)
 * Sesostris Bank
 * Amini-Pitti Bank (also known as Pakshipitti or Pitti)
 * Elikalpeni Bank


 * Submerged reefs (listed north to south)
 * Cherbaniani Reef (also known as Cheriapani, Beliapani or Beleapani)
 * Perumal Par
 * Androth Reef

Aminidivi Islands group
The Aminidivi Islands group is the northern group of Lakshadweep, separated from the Laccadive Islands group roughly by the 11th parallel north. The total land area of the group is 9.26 km2. Below, atolls and islands are listed from north to south.


 * Bassas de Pedro bank (also known as Manjappar or Pedro Bank): is a submerged bank or sunken atoll.


 * Cherbaniani Reef (also known as Beleapani) is a coral atoll and the northernmost feature of Lakshadweep. The atoll has a roughly oval shape and was first described by ornithologist Allan Hume in 1876; its total lagoon area is 57.46 km2. The 14 km long coral reef that encloses the lagoon has three small uninhabited islands:
 * Cherbaniani-I Island
 * Cherbaniani-II Island
 * Cherbaniani-III Island
 * Byramgore Atoll (also known as Chereapani) is a coral atoll located 33 km south of Cherbaniani Reef and 41 km to the northwest of Bitrā Par, in the northwestern area of Lakshadweep at 11.9°N, 71.81667°W. The whole northern part of the atoll is submerged. The total length of the atoll, including the submerged part, is 21.5 km, with a maximum width of 6.3 km. The lagoon area is 172.59 km2.
 * Chetlat Atoll is located 37 km to the northwest of Kiltan Island and norteast of Bitra Island. It has a lagoon area of 3.79 km2.
 * Chetlat Island is one of the populated islands of Lakshadweep. The total dry land area is 1.174 km2. There is a small sand spit (sandbar extension jutting out of the island) on the northern point of this island which is growing with time. The reef and lagoon are located to the west of the island.
 * Bitrā Atoll is a coral reef that encompasses two islands. The Bitra Par lagoon area is 54.61 km2. It is located 41 km southeast of Byramgore Reef, 33 km to north of Perumal Par, southwest of Chetlat Island and west of Kiltān Island.
 * Bitra Island: the main Bitra Island 0.177 km2 is located at the northern end of the Bitrā Par coral reef 11.598°N, 72.187°W. Bitra is the smallest of the populated islands of Lakshadweep.
 * Bitara South Cay: The small south cay 0.009 km2 is located on the southern part of the coral reef 11.524°N, 72.176°W.
 * Kiltān Island is one of the populated islands located 32 km to the southeast of Chetlat Island, east of Bitra Island, and 51 km to the northeast of Amini Island, between 11° 28′ and 11° 30′ N latitude and 72° 59′ and 73° 01′ E longitude, and has an area of 2.20 km2. The reef and lagoon (total area of 3.76 km2) are located to the west of the island and the dry land has 3.4 km length and 0.6 km width at the broadest point.
 * Kadmat Island (also known as Cardamom) is an inhabited island and the central most island of Lakshadweep, as well as the longest island in the Amindivi group. Kadmat Island is south of Chetlat Island, 32 km west of Kiltan Island, east of Bitra Island, 67 km north of Kavaratti Island, and 5 km northeast of Amini Island which marks the northwestern part of the Pitti Bank formation.
 * Amini Atoll: Amini is the name of the island where the Amini town stands and of the coral reef atoll that contains that island. The channel between Amini Island and Ladmat Island is safe and deep, but depths of less than 10 meters project 0.5 mile south from the south tip of the reefs surrounding Cardamom Island.
 * Amini Island: Amini Island, the most important of the Amindivi Islands, is oval, with the long axis oriented northeast-southwest. It is west of Perumal Bar and 5 km southwest of Kadmat Island. It is 2.8 km long and up to 1.3 km wide, yielding a land area of 2.71 km2 (1.05 sq mi). It is fringed by a reef 0.3 to 0.6 km wide.
 * Perumal Par is an uninhabited coral atoll located at 11.164°N, 72.05°W, 33 km south of Bitra Par, west of Amini Island, and 25 km to the northwest of Bangaram Atoll.

Laccadive Islands group
The Laccadive Islands group is the central group of the Lakshadweep, separated from the Amindivi Islands group roughly by the 11th parallel north and from the atoll of Minicoy (Maliku) – far to the south – by the 9th parallel north or Mamala channel. Below, atolls and islands are listed from north to south.


 * Andrott Reef (also known as Androth) is the nearest to the mainland, out of all the islands in the group. It is the longest, as well as the largest (area-wise) island. The island has an area of 4.98 km2 and is the only one of the group to have a west–east orientation. It has a lagoon area of 6.6 km2.
 * Bangaram Atoll
 * Bangaram Island
 * Thinnakara
 * Parali I
 * Parali II
 * Parali III
 * Agatti Atoll is a coral atoll with 24.84 km2 lagoon area is 7 km southwest of Bangaram Island 54 km northwest of Kavaratti Island the closest inhabited island, and 76 km north of Suheli Par atoll. Agatti Atoll's total land area is 3.226 km2 across two islands.
 * Agatti Island is a 7.6 km long island in Agatti atoll located on the northern end of the reef. It has 3.141 km2 land area.
 * Kalpatti Island is the smaller island on southern end on the same reef as Agatti Island. It has 0.085 km2 land area.
 * Amini-Pitti Bank (also known as Pakshipitti or Pitti) is located at 10.76667°N, 72.53333°W 24 km north of Kavaratti Island, 37 km to the east of Agatti and 42.5 km to the south-southwest of Amini Island. Pitti Island is 300 × 200 m and devoid of vegetation. There is a dark rock on the eastern side and several stone cairns. The island is low and arid and, lacking adequate anchorage points, of difficult accessibility. There is another island with the same name in Lakshadweep which is part of the Kalpeni Atoll (see below).
 * Kavaratti Island: Kavaratti is a census town as well as the name of the atoll upon which the town stands. It is well known for its pristine white sand beaches and calm lagoons, which makes it a popular tourist destination. It is located 24 km (13 nmi) south of uninhabited Pitti islet, 54 km SE of inhabited island of Agatti, and 53 km NE of Suheli Par.
 * Suheli Par Atoll is an oval-shaped 17 km long coral atoll located at 10.08333°N, 72.28333°W, 52 km to the SW of Kavaratti Island, 76 km to the south of Agatti Island, 139 km to the west of Kalpeni Island and 205 km to the NNW of Minicoy Island, with the broad Nine Degree Channel between them. The lagoon area is 87.76 km2. There are three islands on the reef encircling the lagoon.
 * Valiyakara Island is located at the northern end of the lagoon. This island has retained most of its original vegetation. It has also some largely stunted, unkempt coconut trees and is visited occasionally by workers who collect the coconuts. Hermit crabs are found in abundance. There is a lighthouse on this island. Light ARLHS LAK-015. It has a size of 0.395 km2.
 * Cheriyakara Island is located on the southeastern side of the lagoon and slightly smaller than Valiyakara. This island has a large coconut plantation. Between mid-October and mid-April, fishermen of Agatti and Kavaratti stay in temporary settlements on this island (average yearly population of 10) They catch tuna in the surrounding waters of the atoll and process it on the island. Its size is 0.383 km2.
 * Indira-Shastri Dweep is a long sandbank located between the two islands – Valiyakara Island and Cheriyakara Island. It is used as a breeding ground by terns. Its size is 0.11 km2.
 * Kalpeni Atoll: 139 km east of Suheli Par,71 km south of Andrott, and 201 km to the NNE of Minicoy, with the broad Nine Degree Channel between them. Kalpeni forms a single coral atoll along with the uninhabited islands of Cheriyam, Tilakkam, Kodithala and Pitti (Kalpeni) islet.
 * Cheriyam is the northernmost island on Kalpeni Atoll, with a population of 10. The island has a water tank, a pond, a small 2.8 km road from the village to a lighthouse at the north point, constructed by MGNREGS at 2015. it has an area of 0.537 km2, and located at 10.142°N, 73.664°W. It is the largest of Kalpeni's Satellite islands. The land in Cheriyam belongs to 49 families living in Kalpeni. MGNREGS is currently making an economic development on the island to accommodate a new village and resort like on Sentosa. It would impact the economic growth of Kalpeni Island.
 * Kodithala Island is immediately to the north of Kalpeni Island and south of Cheriyam Island, with an area of 0.0027 km2.
 * Kalpeni Island: the main island on the atoll has an area of 2.482 km2 and is located at 10.076°N, 73.646°W.
 * Tilakkam group are a group of islands of Kalpeni. The land of these islands 0.055 km2 belong to two different families of Kalpeni.
 * Koomel Islet: is a small islet off the southwest tip of Kalpeni. It has an area of 0.2 ha and is located at 10.073°N, 73.635°W.
 * Pitti Island (Kalpeni): there are two islands named Pitti Island, one in Kalpeni Atoll and another one north of Kavaratti Island. Pitti (Kalpeni) islet, located west of Kalpeni Island and northwest of twin Tilakkam islands, has an area of 3.6 ha, and located at 10.074°N, 73.628°W.
 * Tilakkam East Island is located southwest of Kalpeni Island and south of Koomel Islet. It has an area of 0.88 ha and is located at 10.069°N, 73.633°W.
 * Tilakkam West Island has an area of 0.82 ha, and is located at 10.069°N, 73.631°W.

Minicoy Island group


Below, atolls and islands are listed from north to south.


 * Maliku Atoll is the southernmost atoll of Lakshadweep. It has two islands. The Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy and the Laccadive Islands. The closest island to Minicoy is Thuraakunu in the Republic of the Maldives. Since 1956, the Indian Government has forbidden the direct travelling between the two islands despite their geographic proximity and ethnographic similarities. Maliku Kandu is the traditional name of the broad channel between Minicoy (Maliku) and Ihavandippulhu (Haa Alif Atoll) in the Maldives. In the Admiralty Charts it is called the Eight Degree Channel.
 * Minicoy Island: There are total of eleven villages on Minicoy Island. Minicoy is the second largest and the southernmost among the islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago. It is located 201 km to the south-southwest of Kalpeni, at the southern end of the Nine Degree Channel and 125 km to the north of Thuraakunu, Maldives, at the northern end of the Eight Degree Channel. The atoll is 10 km in length, having a maximum breadth of about 6 km. The closest geographic feature is the Investigator Bank, a submerged shoal located 31 km to the northeast. It measures about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point and it is about 1 km wide in its southern half, while the northern half is a narrow sandspit, often less than 100 m wide. Minicoy is almost completely covered with coconut trees. One of the few landmarks of the island is the Minicoy Island Lighthouse, which was built in 1885 during the British regime
 * Viringili Island (Small Pox Island): in Maliku Atoll of Minicoy's reef is an uninhabited islet located 0.6 km off the southwest end of Minicoy Island. It is barely 200 m in length, fringed with gravel, covered with bushes, and few stunted coconut trees in the center of the island. It is also called the Small Pox Island, because it was where the lepers of Minicoy were formerly banished in abject conditions.