UPSC Prelims 2017 Q98: Geography – World Physical Geography
Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
- (a) Sumatra
- (b) Borneo
- (c) Java
- (d) Sri Lanka
Answer: (a) Sumatra
Explanation
Great Nicobar and its neighbours
Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar group.
Indira Point, India's southernmost tip, is on it.
| Place | Geographically closest? | Position |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Sumatra | Yes | Its northern tip (Aceh) is under 200 km away, across the Great Channel |
| (b) Borneo | No | Far to the east, beyond the Malay Peninsula |
| (c) Java | No | South-east of Sumatra, so farther |
| (d) Sri Lanka | No | Well over 1,000 km to the west |
Channels to remember:
| Channel | Separates |
|---|---|
| Ten Degree Channel | Andaman group and Nicobar group |
| Great Channel (Six Degree Channel) | Great Nicobar and Sumatra |
| Duncan Passage | South Andaman and Little Andaman |
The bank earlier stored (c) as the key; the official key is (a).
Answer: (a) Sumatra.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Sumatra lies just across the Great Channel from Great Nicobar.
- (b) Incorrect. Borneo lies far to the east, beyond Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
- (c) Incorrect. Java is south-east of Sumatra, so it is farther from Great Nicobar.
- (d) Incorrect. Sri Lanka is more than 1,000 km west across the Bay of Bengal.
Key point
Great Nicobar (Indira Point) is geographically closest to Sumatra, across the Great Channel; the Ten Degree Channel separates the Andamans from the Nicobars.
Remember
Great Nicobar's nearest neighbour = Sumatra.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Sri Lanka because it is India's best-known island neighbour.
- Confusing the Ten Degree Channel with the Six Degree (Great) Channel.
- Mixing up Java and Sumatra; Sumatra is the north-western island of Indonesia.
Exam tip
The Nicobars are closer to Indonesia than to mainland India. Think Aceh, the 2004 tsunami's origin.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 2 (Structure and Physiography: The Islands)
- Survey of India — Andaman and Nicobar Islands map