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Kadmat Island

Coordinates:11°13′23″N72°46′34″E/ 11.223°N 72.776°E/11.223; 72.776
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Kadmat Island, situated to the bottom right of the Aminidivi Islands label

Kadmat Island,also known asCardamom Island,is a coral island belonging to theAmindivisubgroup of islands of theLakshadweeparchipelagoinIndia.Measuring 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) in length, the island has alagoonwith a width of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) covering an area of 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi). The ecological feature of the island is ofcoral reefwithseagrass,andmarine turtleswhich nestle here. TheMinistry of Environment and Forests (India)has notified the island as amarine protected areafor ensuring conservation of the island's animal, plant, or other type of organism, and other resources.

The only inhabited village on the island is Kadmat, which had a population of 5,389 according to 2011 census. Fisheries is the main economic activity on the island with agriculture limited to 5% of the land area. Tourism is allowed even for non-Indians and the attractions arekayaking,snorkelingand leisure trips by a glass-bottomed boat forscuba diving.

Geography and climate

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The beach side resort at Kadmat Island

Kadmat Island, which belongs to thetownshipof Kadmat Island ofAminidiviTehsil.[1]is the central most island of theLakshadweeparchipelago.It is in the shape of a tear drop, with 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) area and is located on a coral reef. With a length of 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi)[a]from north to south and a maximum width of 0.57 kilometres (0.35 mi)[4]and it is the longest island in the Amindivi group.[5] Its southern end is the narrowest with a width of about 10 metres (33 ft). The island's topography is about 2.0 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) on the eastern side and 2.0 to 4 metres (6 ft 7 in to 13 ft 1 in) on the western part above the mean sea level. Its surface formation consists ofcoralconglomerateoverlying broken pieces of coral and coral sand.[6]

Thelagoonon the western side of the island[7]extends over a maximum width of 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)[8]covering an area of 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi)[6]and the water depth is shallow about 2 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in).[9][10]It has a shore line and has a sandy beach. The reef width is about 50 metres (160 ft). The tidal range lies between 0.6 to 1.6 metres (2 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in).[9][10][11][6]The beach on the eastern side of the island has a width of 100 metres (330 ft). At the breaking zone of this beach there is a 100 metres (330 ft) wide coral algae ridge.[7]

Kadmat Island is bounded byKavaratti Islandto its northwest at a distance of 67 kilometres (42 mi). It is 32 kilometres (20 mi) away fromKiltan Island.Amini Island,which marks the northwestern part of thePitti Bankformation, is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the southwest.[6]Kannuris 292 kilometres (181 mi) away,Kozhikodeis 327 kilometres (203 mi) away andKochiis 407 kilometres (253 mi) away.[12]

There is an airport on nearbyAgatti Island,in which flights operate fromCochin.From Agatti, it is a two and half hours boat ride to Kadmat. Ferry services also operate from Cochin on the coast ofKeralabut involves a journey of 16 hours.[13]

Climate and the environment

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Boats on the beach of Kadmat

The island experiences an average annual temperature in the range of 24.2–34.4 °C (75.6–93.9 °F). Rainfall occurs during the monsoon season from May to September with an average annual rainfall incidence of 1,237 millimetres (48.7 in) as per records of the nearby island of Amini.[14]The maximum rainfall recorded in a day is 241.8 millimetres (9.52 in). Humidity averages at 72.5%.[12]

Ecologically, the island is composed of coral reef withseagrass,andmarine turtleswhich nestle here. Keeping this aspect in view, theMinistry of Environment and Forests (India)has notified the island as a marine protected area to enable conservation of the island's animal, plant, or other type of organism, and other resources.[15]The coral reefs are damaged to the extent of 10% (assessed byIUCNin 1976) due to anthropocentric pressure and also due toclimate change.Dredging operation at the entry to the island is causing damage to coral species as the dredged material is dumped into the lagoon. Coral blocks found in the beaches and the coral flats are extracted for building activity on the island. This could cause serious geo-morphological changes of the island in the form of sea erosion of the shores and the beach. Coral bleaching, a natural phenomenon attributed to strongEl Niños,which occurred during 1998 due to seawater warming, is reported to have reduced the number of coral species from 45 to 9.[16]

Demographics

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Religion in Kadmat Island (2011)[17]

Islam(97.65%)
Hinduism(1.92%)
Christianity(0.24%)
Others (0.15%)
Not Stated (0.04%)

The island is inhabited mainly by individuals of the Melacceri caste.[18] Kadmat village is the only inhabited village on the island.[13]According to the 2011 census the island had a population of 5,389 consisting of 2,676 males and 2,713 females.[19]Population density is 1,727 per km2.Decennial Growth Rate recorded for the period 2001–2011 was 1.03 percent.[19]In 2001, the literacy rate was 87.88 percent of which male literacy rate was 91.78 and female literacy was 92.53; in both cases much higher than of the Lakshadweep island.[20]Jasari/Jazaryis the dominant language of the people of the island and the literacy rate is as high as 90.4%.[12]

The island has a network of roads, several ponds and wells, primary and higher secondary schools, electricity, telephone, health centres and so forth.[20]

In 1960, a hoard of coins were unearthed and examined, revealing that the island has been inhabited since at least 200 AD. Kadmat island is known to havetradedwith the Romans, as in 1948 a girl found a Roman coin in a quarry on the island.[21]

Economy

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Drying octopus on Kadmat

Fishing is the principal activity of the people of the island. Fishing is done both off shore in the sea and during the monsoon season in the lagoon and reef area. Trawl nets and pole line are used for oceanictunafishing. Wooden boats are used for local fishing in the lagoon. Fish species reported includecarangids,cephalopods,perches,rainbow sardine,rays,sail fishes,sharks,skipjack tuna,andtuna.[22] Agriculture is practised, with about 5% of the land area brought under cultivation. Coconut plantations are common along with associated coir twinning. Crops grown include red grass, groundnut, maize, sweet potato, grains, cereals, millets, papaya, and banana.[23]

Tourism has taken off on the island, though it only has one beach resort for 50 guests. There arekayakingandsnorkelingfacilities, and leisure trips by a glass-bottomed boat forscuba diving.[13]In 1998 the first Water Sports Institute was established on Kadmat, along with the Laccadives Diving Centre.[24]

Wildlife

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The island has three types of habitats: coral reef, seagrass and nesting ground for marine turtles.[14]Zoning of the coral reef is mapped under three zones ofreef flat,reef slope and lagoon. Next to the shore line are thefringing reefswhere fish species offinandshell fishesspawn,and are found in abundance. As of 1986, there were 45 coral species in the reef. These are threatened due to human interference and natural causes.[15]Live coral is reported in less than 1% area. There are 9 species of live corals in the lagoon and reef slope area. The species of live corals reported are:Acropora formosa(staghorn coral),Acropora robusta,Acropora,Acropora subglabra,Acropora tortuosa,Acropora vaughani,Favites,Pocillopora verrucosaandLobophytum[25]Benthic organisms are reported on the reef slope and lagoon area. Macrobenthos are found in the inter-tidal and sub-tidal area. 23 species ofpolychaetes,3 species ofbivalves,3 species ofcrustaceans,and 3 species ofgastropodshave been recorded.[26]

The seagrass beds, which forms an area of around 13.8 square kilometres (5.3 sq mi) across the island,[27]provide crucial food forturtlesanddugongs,with four species of marine turtles reported:Chelonia mydas(green sea turtle),Dermochelys coriacea(leatherback sea turtle), andEretmochelys imbricata(Hawksbill sea turtle) andLepidochelys olivacea(Olive Ridley sea turtle).[28]There are 7 species of seagrass reported here, out of 14 found in the Lakshadweep Islands, including theThalassia hemprichiiandCymodocea rotundata.[28]Seaweedsrecorded consist of 34 species, out of which 14 species are ofRhodophyceae,13 (red algae) areChlorophyceae(green algae) and 7 species arePhaeophyceae(brown algae).[29]20 species ofPhytoplanktonand 19 groups ofZooplanktonhave been recorded in the reef slope and lagoon area;[30]33 species of benthic organisms have also been noted in the same vicinity.[26]

Kadmat Beach

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Kadmat Beachis one of the prominent features of Kadmat Island. The beach is known for its clear waters and rich marine life, making it a popular destination for water sports likeSnorkelingandScuba diving.Kadmat Beach has also been awarded the prestigiousBlue Flag beachcertification for its commitment to environmental sustainability and safety standards.[31]

Notes

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  1. ^Various sources differ in their reporting of the length. A number of sources claim 8 km,[2]while the Geological Survey of Indian states 9.25 kilometres (5.75 mi).[3]

References

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  1. ^"Tehsils info"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 July 2011.Retrieved18 January2009.
  2. ^Athawale 1991,p. 69.
  3. ^Records of the Geological Survey of India.The Survey. 1998. p. 218.
  4. ^"Kadmat Island, Lakshadweep".Government of Lakshadweep.Retrieved6 July2016.
  5. ^Prakash, Nair & Hameed 2014,p. 48.
  6. ^abcd"Kadmat".Ocean Dots: The Island Encyclopaedia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^abGreen & Short 2003,p. 106.
  8. ^"Kadmat Iland: Ar a glance".Government of Lakshadweep.Retrieved6 July2016.
  9. ^abSri 2001,p. 10.
  10. ^ab"Critical Habitat Information System of Kadmat Island"(PDF).Government of India,Department of Ocean Development. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 July 2011.Retrieved18 January2009.
  11. ^Sri 2001,p. 9.
  12. ^abc"Kadmat - At a Glance".National Informatics Center.
  13. ^abc"Lakshadweep: All quiet on India's secret islands".The Independent.9 August 2015.
  14. ^abSri 2001,p. 4.
  15. ^abSri 2001,pp. 4–5.
  16. ^Sri 2001,pp. 23–25.
  17. ^"Kadmat Island population".Census India 2011.Retrieved15 January2024.
  18. ^The Eastern Anthropologist.Ethnographic and Folk Culture Society. 1989. p. 287.
  19. ^ab"Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census"(PDF).Government of Lakshadweep. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 July 2016.
  20. ^ab"Kadmat Island"(PDF).Government of LakshadweEp. p. 247.Retrieved6 July2016.
  21. ^Mukerji 1992,p. 40.
  22. ^Sri 2001,pp. 20–21.
  23. ^Sri 2001,pp. 10, 23.
  24. ^Carlsen & Butler 2011,p. 61.
  25. ^Sri 2001,p. 12.
  26. ^abSri 2001,p. 17.
  27. ^Sri 2001,p. 13.
  28. ^abSri 2001,pp. 5–6.
  29. ^Sri 2001,p. 18.
  30. ^Sri 2001,p. 13–14.
  31. ^"Explained: What is Blue Flag all about? Lakshadweep's Minicoy, Thundi and Kadmat beaches that won the coveted award".Zee Business.Retrieved2 September2023.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toKadmat.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide forLakshadweep.

11°13′23″N72°46′34″E/ 11.223°N 72.776°E/11.223; 72.776

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