Pitti Explained

Pitti, also known as Pakshipitti (pakshi meaning "bird" in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil), is an uninhabited coral islet in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India.

Geography

It is located at 10.7667°N 104°W about 24 km to the north of Kavaratti, 37 km to the east of Agatti and 42.5 km to the south-southwest of Amini Island.^[3] The island is low and arid and, lacking adequate anchorage points, of difficult accessibility. There is another island with the same name in Lakshadweep which is part of the Kalpeni Atoll.

Pitti Island is 300 × 200 m and devoid of vegetation. There is a dark rock on the eastern side and several stone cairns.^[4]

Ecology

Pitti is an important nesting place for pelagic birds such as the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa), the greater crested tern (Sterna bergii) and the brown noddy (Anous stolidus). The birds nest side by side, but not intermixed, on the dry coral rubble. There is a seasonal pattern in the breeding period of the birds. Since it has no protecting reef surrounding it, the islet is periodically rinsed by wave action and there is no accumulation of guano on it.^[5]

Pitti Bank

Pitti is located at the southern end of Pitti Bank, a largely submerged atoll, on the same bank as Amini Island. Pitti Bank, also oriented along a northeast–southwest axis, is 49 km long, in the northern part from 2 to 7 km wide and in the southern part up to 18 km wide. The 11th parallel north passes across the bank. Pitti Bank may be considered a largely submerged and sunken atoll, with an estimated lagoon area of 415km2, with just the two islands Amini and Pitti remaining at its opposite ends.

Administration

The island belongs to the township of Kavaratti Island of Kavaratti tehsil.^[6]

References

• Mondreti, R., Davidar, P. & Grémillet, D. (2018). "Illegal egg harvesting and population decline in a key pelagic seabird colony of the Eastern Indian Ocean". Marine Ornithology. 46: 103–107.

External links

• Hydrographic Description (Indian Ocean Pilot)
• Lagoon sizes
• List of Atolls
• An ornithological expedition to the Lakshadweep archipelago
• Sources towards a history of the Laccadive Islands

Notes and References

1. Web site: Islandwise Area and Population – 2011 Census. Government of Lakshadweep.
2. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
3. Web site: Lakshadweep – Pitti . Oceandots . 17 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101223015139/http://www.oceandots.com/indian/lakshadweep/pitti.php . 23 December 2010 .
4. Book: Prostar Sailing Directions 2005 India & Bay of Bengal Enroute . National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency . ProStar Publications . 103 . 2005 . 17 February 2012. 9781577856627 . National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency .
5. Birds of Lakshadweep Islands . Zacharias . V.J. . Kurup . Deepakumar Narayana . . 1994 . 10 . 49–64 . 17 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112215302/http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/10pdfs/Kurup-Lakshadweep.pdf . 12 January 2012 .
6. Web site: Tehsils info . 29 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163348/http://lakshadweep.gov.in/Area-Population.PDF . 21 July 2011 . dead .