UNIT 29 ISLANDS AND BEACHES Structure 29.0 Objectives 29.1 Introduction 29.2 Tourism and Environment 25.3 Islands and Beaches: Their importance 29.4 Islands: Classification and Mode of Formation 29.5 Islands: Spacial Distribution . 29 5.1 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands 29.3.2 The Lakshadweep Islands 29.6 Beaches: Mode of Formation 29.7 Beaches: Spatial Distribution 29 7.1 Beaches along the Western Coast 29.7.2 Beaches along the Eastern Coast 29.8 Threat to Environment 29 8.1 Pollution Caused by Tourists 29.8.2 Degradation Caused by Infrastructure 29.9 The Way Out 29.10 Let Us Sum Up 29.11 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises 29.0 OBJECTIVES Tourism today is one of the world's fastest growing enterprises and has acquired the status pf an industry. It earns over three trillion U.S. dollars worldwide, generated by over 500 aillion international travellers. The corresponding figures are likely to go up to $5.3 trillion and 600 million by the turn of the century. As such this 'smokeless industry' is reeling under the pressures generated by an over expanding traffic. Such a scenario calls for a sharp scrutiny . --.of the interrelationship between,tourism and Environment. Our objectives in this Unit, therefore are to make you: appreciate the relative importance of Islands and Beaches in the tourism' industry realise the implications of 'uncontrolled' tourism on the environment of Islands and Beaches acknowledge the need to conserve and protect the otherwise threatened environment of the islands and beaches, and work towards the same. I 29.1 INTRODUCTION Island and beaches, locate'd at the intersection of land and sea, have provided an incentive to the promotion of tourism and the development af tourist industry. This Unit explores the relationship between islands and beaches as facets of environment, and tourism in the form of a human intervention into nature. Islands and beaches have been discussed separately in the Unit. It takes up the islands first and classifies them into different categories. It then describes to you the two major Indian islands - Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Similarly, the Unit defines beaches and discusses the manner in which they are formed. It then points out the specific characteristics of the Indian beaches geographically distributed on the eastern and western coasts. Finally the Unit talks'about how the islands and beaches are affected.by tourism and suggests way of improving the situation. TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - - . :. " Tourism and Environment are mutually inter-related.?%ile t~smrequires a goodnatural environment, not to speak of sociosconomic environment, ~OT#-to flourish, the existence of .. -. -. Environmental Impacls - 2 degradation can lead to a decline in tourisms, while uncontrolled tourism leads t'b environmental degradation. Blocks 5 of this course has addressed itself to this importapt issue. In biogeography, the sum of physical, chemical and biological conditions experienced by an organism, including climate, soil, water, light, neighboring vegetation, individuals and members of other species forms an environment. Environment is dynamic too, as environmental conditions vary according to the time of the day, season, weather and other factors. To make things simple and in the context of tourism we will primarily focus on two components of environment; firstly the physical environment and secondly the socio-cultural environment. Reverting back to the discussion, one might wonder why this hue and cry over environmental degradation now? Tourists were always there, tourism has a long history but the concern over the need to protect the environment was never so compelling. The answer perhaps lies in the rapid 'modernization7 across the globe. Owing to unprecedented industrialization, urbanization, technological developments, the world is no longer the same place that it used to be. Human life has become very fast while keeping pace with these developments. In addition, modern means of transport and communication have made mobility very easy and convenient. A natural corollary of all this has been a spurt in tourist activities, both at the international and at the domestic level. While in the case of foreign tourists, business, pleasure, 'people and culture', history and archaeology, 'knowledge of the , world' have been the influencing factors, in case of domestic tourism pleasure, people and culture, pilgrimage, history and archaeology are the most important factors. The places of visit thus vary accordingly consisting of mountains, valleys, historical monuments, deserts, temples/churches and islands and beaches. In this Unit we will introduce you to different kinds of Islands and beaches. 6 29.3 ISLANDS AND BEACHES: THEIR IMPORTANCE India, with such a diversified physiography, has much to offer by way of tourism; the Himalayas are perfect for skiing, skating, hiking and trekking. India's temples, forts, palaces, sculptures, paintings, monuments and archaeological ruins are over 3000 ycars old. The temples of Khajuraho, the Sanchi Stupa, the Ajanta and Ellora caves, the forts at Delhi and Agra and many others are the best bet for those interested in history and architecture. For wildlife enthusiasts there are National parks and sanctuaries with a variety of wildlife. Similarly India is also rich in beaches and islands. The tourists from colder climates looking for sunshine and warm water beaches constitute one of the largest segments of present day tourism. The pleasure periphey of European and American tourists which ended at the Mediterranean and Caribbean now extends to the beaches of Asia and Pacific. India plays a major role in this regard. The beaches along the Arabian sea coast are ideal for bathing, surfing and sailing. The white sand beaches and warm conditions along the Puri-Konark region in the East can draw millions of tourists from freezing Europe. The Andamans and Lakshadweep are ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. Underwater life can be interesting to naturalists and photographers. It is no wonder that sand, sea, surf, water and wind together with the background in a beach could be fascinating for anyone. It is more so for Indians many of whom living in far interior places would not have seen them before. As far as the domestic tourists are concerned, survey reveal that Beaches are the best attractions followed by temples/pilgrirn centres, historic places, Hill resorts, cities, wildlife etc. The beachcs and islands therefore have a special importance for foreign as well as domestic tourists. 29.4 ISLANDS: CLASSIFICATION AND MODE OF FORMATION Before embarking upon a discussion on the spatial distribution of Islands and Beachcs in India, let us familiarise ourselves with their definitions and the conditions that necessitate their existence. An island is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by water. It may occur individually or in a group, in open oceans or seas. Smaller ones of only local significance are found even in lakes and rivers. The following chart shows the classification of Islands and their modes of formation. Islands Chart Islands and Beaches I ! Continental Islands I Oceanic Islands 1 They were formerly part of They are normally small and are mainland and are now detached located in the midst of oceans and from the continent. Their have no connection with the separation could be due to mainland. subsidence of some part of the vland or to rise in sea level. I Individunl Islnnds Archipelagoes 11 Coral Islnnds These lie just ourside the These comprise These islands form an I I Theyare These islands built up by continent, very much islands of varying archipelago in the shape coral animals of various associated with the shapes and sizes, for of a loop around the edge i) the topmost parts of species, are found both characteristic features of example The British or the mainland, marking the cones of volcanoes near the shores of the the mainland, for Isles. the continuation of the that rise from the bed. mainland and in the midst example Madagascar mountain r :nges which Example - Mauna Lao of oceans. Elample - Ceylon. can be tzgc :I! )n the (Hawaii), or Lakshadweep, h:aldi.res. continent, to1 exaniple the Aleutian Islands, East ii) have emerged from Indies. the submarine ridges of 11 the oceans. 29.5 ISLANDS: SPACIAL DISTRIBUTION At the outset, it needs to be stated, that we will confine our discussion to those islands which .are important from the point of view of tourism. Thus only two group of Indian islands figure in our list. he Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 29.5.1 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Situated in the Bay of Bengal they form a group of more than 300 islands, the great majority of which (about 265) are uninhabited being too small and with little or no water. Andarnan and Nicobar form two broad group of Continental Islands separated by the 10 degree channel. Geologically, the islands appear to have been a part of the landmass of South-East Asia, comprising north east India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is of tropical type but the cbntinuous breeze blowing in from the surrounding seas, makes it very pleasant. The Andaman group, has at its extreme north, Land Fall Island. This is followed by the three main islands; North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman, all of them separated from each other by shallow seas. The important islands in the Nicobar group are Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar, Chowa Teressa, Nancownie, Katchal and Little Nicobar. The economy of the Islands is based primarily on wood based industries. Besides fisheries, tourism and ship repairing are also important. Small cultivated area has crops like rice, coconut and arecanut. Other crops are sugarcane, pubes, fruits and vegetables. Spices and rubber are also being tried. Though travel is restricted here, these islands are.open to tourism and, with their lovely beaches and coral beds, are a traveller's delight.