VU4X – Andaman Islands

The VU4X team will be conducting activities at IOTA AS-001, Andaman Islands from March 10 to 21, 2025.
Team – ON4AMX/VU3PFV, ON4HIL/VU3PFT, ON5UR/VU3PFE, ON5RA/VU3PFF, ON5TN, ON6CC/VU3PFN, ON7FT/VU3PFH, ON7USB/VU3PFQ, ON7RU/VU3PFJ, ON8AZ/VU3PFP, PA9M/VU3PFO, PA3EWP/VU3PFI.
Nearest DX Point VU4X
VU4X Log Searchsearch They will operate on the HF band.
QSL is performed through M0URX and OQRS.

Andaman Islands

The Andaman Islands are an archipelago located between Myanmar and India in the Indian Ocean. The population of the islands is just over 300,000, of which 500 are indigenous. The largest city on the island is Port Blair. Nature is one of the main attractions here, and even people who are indifferent to nature will appreciate its beauty.

Andaman Islands. Author – Dusan Simek.

Rum for locals only

The Andaman Islands are famous for rum, and every tourist should try it. However, please note that it is forbidden to take it out of the country, as well as other local drinks. Not only alcohol, but also local soft drinks are not allowed. Everything that is forbidden to take out is specially marked. That is why you should pay attention to the labels of drinks when visiting the Andaman Islands. It is recommended to choose the fruits of the local liquor industry, because they are unique. There is also local homemade liquor, which is made by the residents themselves.

A penal colony with over 150 years of history

In 1790, the British established a penal colony on an island to imprison dangerous lawbreakers, murderers, and thieves. The penal colony existed until 1947 and became one of the most famous penal colonies in the UK. It was not until after 1947 that the penal colony was closed because the island was independent of British rule. The locals believed that it made no sense to keep another country’s prison on the island.

Andaman Islands. Author- Saurabh Sharda.

Sherlock’s Island Footprints

Conan Doyle’s fans will remember that one of his novels was set in the Andaman Islands. The Sign of Four describes the adventures of the protagonists who visited the Andaman Islands. It is thanks to this that these islands left their mark in literature. The description of the locals is exactly the same as it is today. They are a mixture of blacks and Indians, and the towns on the islands are densely populated. They are of medium build and look more like Indians, but with a darker complexion.

House with vines and banyan trees

The exterior walls of local buildings are densely entwined with vines and banyan trees, which is a unique feature of the local area, making the urban landscape as close to nature as possible. The houses entwined with vines have beautiful appearances and interesting shapes, which change under the influence of plants. It looks very unusual.

Houses under banyan trees also look very interesting. The canopy of this tree is the widest in the world. It can reach several kilometers. This shape and size is due to the vines that grow under the canopy, which take root in the ground and thus continue to grow. Therefore, there can be many small buildings under one plant, but banyan trees are more often built on top of them, because the dense canopy can absorb most of the sunlight.

The capital’s airstrip can accommodate a Boeing 777

Located in Port Blair, it is one of the largest islands in the archipelago. There is an airport there, which is the most important hub for civil and even military aviation. The local government spared no expense in building the airport so that the island’s guests can be safe and reach here with the help of convenient transportation. The airport’s biggest pride is the 3,290-meter runway that can accommodate a Boeing 777. This Boeing aircraft is one of the largest aircraft today. This once again proves that the local government takes care of both its own military security and the needs of tourists.

Most of the islands are uninhabited.

The archipelago consists of 204 islands. With such a large number, it is not surprising that some of them may be uninhabited. In fact, uninhabited islands make up the majority of them there. Only 30 islands are inhabited, while 174 islands remain uninhabited. The locals on the inhabited islands continue to live in the jungle with little civilization to speak of. The settlers live in towns with complete amenities and make their living mainly from fishing.

Andaman Islands. Author- Santanu Sen.

The only active volcano in South Asia

One of the islands has the only active volcano in the country. It is located on Barren Island, 135 km northeast of the capital. The activity of the volcano makes it difficult for locals to live in the area, so the island where it is located is uninhabited. Almost a quarter of its area is occupied by volcanoes. The natural scenery here is unique and beautiful, just like the rest of the Andaman Islands.

Coconut crab or palm crab

This crab is not only the largest crab in the world, but also the most beautiful one. The reason why this crab has such a strange name is that it likes to feed on coconut flesh. This crab can weigh up to 4 kg and its body length can reach 40 cm. The way it moves is also very interesting. Since this crab feeds on coconut flesh, it needs to get coconut flesh from coconut trees. In order to do this, it manages to climb up the coconut trees with its claws. Those who catch it can see its blue belly and equally bright claws.

Unique natural scenery in the world

98% of the plants found on these islands are endemic. This means that these plants are only found here and are not found anywhere else in the world. 50% of the butterfly species are also not found anywhere else. In fact, these islands have their own ecosystems that have not been particularly modified by humans and have developed naturally independently from the mainland. This provides visitors with a unique opportunity to learn new things.

Coral reefs unknown to scientists

The coral reefs have been studied quite thoroughly, but some are discovered by scientists for the first time. In 2011, more than 110 new species of corals were discovered near the islands, and 197 previously known species were discovered. That is why diving enthusiasts have the opportunity to explore coral species never seen anywhere else. High-quality diving is also promoted by the beautiful and clear local waters, which have developed their own ecosystem.

The only place in the world where the largest sea turtles are found

On some islands of the Andamans, leatherback turtles lay eggs every year. They are the only large members of their species. They can reach a length of 2.9 meters and weigh more than 600 kg. This turtle is currently threatened with complete extinction, and these islands are the only places in the world where these reptiles can be found. When they come to the beaches to breed, access to the beaches is strictly prohibited for tourists and locals, and all travelers should take this into consideration. Locals are trying to restore the turtle population in this way.

VU4X. Where are the Andaman Islands. Map.