Suheli Par

Suheli Par

Location of Suheli Par in the Indian Ocean

Satellite picture showing the atolls of the Lakshadweep except for Minicoy

Suheli Par is a coral atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It is located at 10°05′N 72°17′E / 10.083°N 72.283°E / 10.083; 72.283, 52 km to the SW of Kavaratti, 76 km to the south of Agatti, 139 km to the west of Kalpeni and 205 km to the NNW of Minicoy, with the broad Nine Degree Channel between them. There are two uninhabited islands on the reef encircling the lagoon.^[1] This oval-shaped 17 km long atoll is surrounded by an area of rich marine fauna.

Islands

• Valiyakara Located at the northern end of the lagoon.^[2] This island has retained most of its original vegetation. It has also some largely stunted, unkempt coconut trees and is visited occasionally by workers who collect the coconuts. Hermit crabs are found in abundance.^[3] There is a lighthouse on this island.^[4]
• Cheriyakara Located on the southeastern side of the lagoon and slightly smaller than Valiyakara. This island has a large coconut plantation. Between mid-October and mid-April, fishermen of Agatti and Kavaratti stay in temporary settlements on this island. They catch tuna in the surrounding waters of the atoll and process it on the island.
• Suheli Pitti is a long sandbank located between the two islands. It was used as a breeding ground by terns.^[5]

Ecology

Both islands have coconut trees, as well as Pandanus, Scaevola taccada, Tournefortia argentea and Pemphis acidula bushes. The Grey Heron and the Black-capped kingfisher have been observed in this atoll. Owing to the rich marine life there was a proposal to declare Suheli Par a Marine National Park.^[6]

In 2006 a ship from Seychelles ran aground on this atoll, but there was no oil spill reported.^[7]

References

1. ^ Suheli Par - Oceandots
2. ^ CMFRI bulletin 44
3. ^ Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria - Fishes of Lakshadweep
4. ^ Valiyakara/Suheli Par North (Laccadive Islands) Light ARLHS LAK-015
5. ^ Birds of Lakshadweep Islands
6. ^ A.G.K. Menon, Marine Park of Lakshadweep, a report submitted to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, 1976
7. ^ Vessel gets stuck off Lakshadweep, no oil spill reported

External links

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