Q. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the "Ten Degree Channel"? (UPSC Prelims 2014)
Answer:
Andaman and Nicobar
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] Andaman and Nicobar. The
Ten Degree Channel is a body of water that separates the Andaman Islands to the north from the Nicobar Islands to the south. It lies approximately on the 10°N parallel of latitude, which gives it its name.
- Andaman and Nicobar (Statement A – Correct): Specifically, the channel separates Little Andaman (the southernmost of the Andaman group) from Car Nicobar (the northernmost of the Nicobar group). It is about 150 km wide and serves as a major maritime route in the Bay of Bengal.
- Nicobar and Sumatra (Statement B – Incorrect): These are separated by the Great Channel (also known as the Six Degree Channel). This channel is located between Great Nicobar and the Aceh province of Indonesia (Sumatra).
- Maldives and Lakshadweep (Statement C – Incorrect): The Eight Degree Channel separates the islands of Minicoy (the southernmost island of Lakshadweep) and the Maldives. The Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the main Lakshadweep archipelago.
- Sumatra and Java (Statement D – Incorrect): These two Indonesian islands are separated by the Sunda Strait, which connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.
Geographically, the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is a North-South trending chain. The Ten Degree Channel is a critical physical feature that divides this Union Territory into two distinct island groups.