Nicobar Islands (redirected from Nicobar Islanders)

Nicobar Islands, India: see Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Nicobar Islands 

a group of 19 islands, 12 of which are inhabited, between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean near the Indian mainland. They cover an area of 1,600 sq km.

The Nicobar Islands are a continuation of the Arakan Mountains and the chain of Andaman Islands. Maximum elevation is 642 m. The islands are formed primarily of schists and sandstone; the small islands are formed of coral limestone. There is a subequatorial monsoonal climate. Annual precipitation ranges from 2,200 to 3,200 mm. The southern islands are covered with tropical evergreen forests; the northern islands, with high grassy meadows. There are coconut palm plantations; there is also fishing (including sea cucumber, or trepang, and shellfish) and the gathering of birds’ nests.