Interview Island
{{short description|Island of the Andaman Islands}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Interview Island
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| native_name_lang =
| sobriquet =
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| pushpin_map = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Interview Island
| coordinates = {{coord|12.88|N|92.70|E|region:IN-AN_type:isle_dim:50000_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| etymology =
| location = Bay of Bengal
| archipelago = Andaman Islands
| waterbody = Indian Ocean
| area_km2 = 101
| area_footnotes = {{cite web|url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|title=Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census|publisher=Government of Andaman}}
| rank =
| length_km = 23
| width_km = 6.9
| coastline_km = 66.0
| elevation_m = 113
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite enroute|173|2017|276}}
| highest_mount =
| country = {{flag|India}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = District
| country_admin_divisions = North and Middle 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 = Interview Group
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Taluk
| country_admin_divisions_3 = Mayabunder Taluk
| country_largest_city = Interview village
| population = 16
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_rank =
| population_rank_max =
| density_km2 = 0.158
| density_rank =
| density_footnotes =
| ethnic_groups = Hindu, Andamanese
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type = PIN
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| website = {{URL|http://www.and.nic.in/}}
| iso_code_type = ISO code
| iso_code = IN-AN-00Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
| additional_info = {{Infobox
| child=yes
| label2 = Literacy
| data2 = 84.4%
| label3 = Avg. summer temperature
| data3 ={{convert|30.2|°C|°F}}
| label4 = Avg. winter temperature
| data4 ={{convert|23.0|°C|°F}}
| label5 = Sex ratio
| label7 = Census Code
| data7 = 35.639.0004
| label8 = Official Languages
}}
}}
Interview Island is an island of the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the North and Middle Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-VillageDirectory/Directory/short_code_rural_35.pdf|title=Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands|publisher=Census of India|access-date=2011-01-16}}
It lies {{convert|125|km|0|abbr=on}} north of Port Blair.
History
The lighthouse on the island was affected by the tsunami generated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake which inundated much of its area. The lighthouse was reported as "completely destroyed" at the time,[http://cires.colorado.edu/~bilham/IndonesiAndaman2004_files/IndiraPointSubsidence.htm Lighthouses in Andaman & Nicobar and the 26 Dec 2004 earthquake] but it was later repaired.{{Cite rowlett|amn}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.southeastasiapilot.com/images/images-listings/interview-island.png |title=map with lighthouse location |access-date=16 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019002223/http://www.southeastasiapilot.com/images/images-listings/interview-island.png |archive-date=19 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.dgll.nic.in/LightHouse.aspx?Consent_id=151&Module_id=16&LocationId=10&LangId=1|publisher=www.dgll.nic.in|title=Government of India, Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships.|access-date=2016-10-18}} Until 2015 there was a wildlife station to monitor birds, with permanent inhabitants located on the west coast near the lighthouse. The station is also staffed with a lighthouse keeper (from the police). It was evacuated at the end of 2015 due to its budget being discontinued.[http://www.knowandamans.com/2011/11/one-more-gem-of-andaman-nicobar-islands-interview-island.html visit]
Geography
The island belongs to the Interview Group and is situated to the west of Austen Strait which separates North Andaman Island and Middle Andaman Island. It has an area of {{cvt|101|km2}}. The island is low at its north end, but rises gradually to a height of {{cvt|113|m}}. The highest part of the island is a wooded plateau. A rocky pinnacle, {{cvt|7|m}} high, lies close off a cliff on the south end of the island. Foul ground extends about {{cvt|2|mile}} north-northeast from the island.[http://ls1.and.nic.in/doef/images/gallery/Interview_island.JPG pic 1]
Fauna
The island has about 80–90 feral elephants which were brought for forestry works, and still remain on this island.{{According to whom|date=August 2024}}. The more likely number of elephants is probably closer to a dozen or so individuals {{cite web |title=Elephants brought to the Andaman Islands for logging have now become a feral, invasive species |url=https://scroll.in/article/1070511/elephants-brought-to-the-andaman-islands-for-logging-have-now-become-a-feral-invasive-species |website=www.scroll.in |date=28 July 2024 |publisher=Scroll.in}}
Administration
Politically, Interview Island, along with the neighbouring Interview Group of islands, is part of Mayabunder Taluk, a sub-district of India.{{cite web|url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf |publisher=andssw1.and.nic.in|title=DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS |access-date=2016-09-23}}
Transportation
Travel to the island is by dinghy through Austen Strait from Mayabunder, taking 3 hours.
Demographics
There is only one village, located at the eastern part of the island.[http://ls1.and.nic.in/doef/images/gallery/interview_island_view.JPG forest station village pic]
According to the 2011 census of India, the island has only one household. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 100%.{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3500_PART_B_DCHB_ANDAMAN%20&%20NICOBAR%20ISLANDS.pdf |title=District Census Handbook - Andaman & Nicobar Islands |work=2011 Census of India |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands |access-date=2015-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801173328/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3500_PART_B_DCHB_ANDAMAN%20%26%20NICOBAR%20ISLANDS.pdf |archive-date=1 August 2015 |df=dmy-all }}
| class="wikitable sortable"
! !! Total !! Male !! Female | |||
| Population | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Children aged below 6 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The island was opened to tourists in the year 1997, it is entirely abandoned. Just a few forest wardens, policemen and coast guards are posted here in order to keep poachers at a safe distance.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130520215653/http://www.indiatravelnext.com/islands-of-andaman/interview-island-in-andaman-and-nicobar.html guide]
References
{{reflist}}
{{Wikivoyage|Interview Island}}
{{Portal|India}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050728121303/http://www.gsi.gov.in/mudvol.htm Geological Survey of India]
- {{wikivoyage-inline|Andaman and Nicobar Islands}}
{{North and Middle Andaman district |state=collapsed}}
www.andamanicobarisland.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Interview Island}}
Category:Cities and towns in North and Middle Andaman district
Category:Islands of North and Middle Andaman district
Category:Islands of the Bay of Bengal
Category:Tourist attractions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands