Indira Point
Explanation
The extreme geographical coordinates of the Indian Union and the physiographic alterations caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.Detailed Analysis:
- Indira Point: Located on the Great Nicobar Island at approximately 6°45' N latitude, Indira Point (formerly known as Pygmalion Point) represents the southernmost point of the entire Indian Union. Following the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake on December 26, 2004, the tectonic plate movement caused the sea floor to rise and the land in the Nicobar chain to subside. As a result, Indira Point was submerged under the sea.
- Kanyakumari: Located at 8°4' N, Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) is the southernmost point of the Indian mainland. While the tsunami caused significant devastation along the coast, the geographical point itself was not submerged.
- Port Blair: As the administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair experienced seismic activity and wave impact but remained geographically intact above sea level.
- Minicoy: This is the southernmost island of the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea. It was geographically removed from the direct impact zone of the tsunami, which predominantly affected the eastern coast of India and the Bay of Bengal islands.
Key Takeaway: A clear distinction exists between the southernmost point of the Indian mainland (Kanyakumari) and the southernmost point of the Indian Union (Indira Point). The latter was submerged due to land subsidence during the 2004 Tsunami.