Pitti

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.

For the Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy, see Palazzo Pitti.
Pitti
Nickname: Pakshipitti
Pitti is located in India
Pitti
Pitti
Geography
LocationArabian Sea
Coordinates10°46′31″N 72°32′03″E
TypeIslet
ArchipelagoLakshadweep
Adjacent toIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Area0.036 km2 (0.014 sq mi)[1]
Coastline0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Highest elevation2 m (7 ft)
Administration
TerritoryUnion territory of Lakshadweep
DistrictLakshadweep
Island groupLaccadive Islands
Tehsils of IndiaKavaratti
Subdivisions of IndiaKavaratti
Demographics
Population0 (2014)
Pop. density0/km2 (0/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsMalayali, Mahls
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeIN-LD-05[2]
Official websitewww.lakshadweep.gov.in
Avg. summer temperature32.0 °C (89.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature28.0 °C (82.4 °F)

Geography

It is located at 10°46′N 72°32′E 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.[5] 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 415 km2 (160 sq mi), 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
  1. "Islandwise Area and Population – 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Lakshadweep.
  2. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  3. "Lakshadweep – Pitti". Oceandots. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  4. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2005). Prostar Sailing Directions 2005 India & Bay of Bengal Enroute. ProStar Publications. p. 103. ISBN 9781577856627. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  5. Zacharias, V.J.; Kurup, Deepakumar Narayana (1994). "Birds of Lakshadweep Islands" (PDF). Forktail (10): 49–64. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  6. "Tehsils info" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2016.


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