South Button Island National Park is anational park located in theAndaman and Nicobar Islands off the coast ofIndia. The total area of this protected island is about 5 km2 (2 mi2), which makes it the smallest national park in India.[1] Along with the neighbouring islands ofNorth Button andMiddle Button, both also national parks, it forms part of theRani Jhansi Marine National Park off the coast ofSouth Andaman Island.[2]
The South Button Island National Park is part of theRani Jhansi Marine National Park and is located some 24 km (15 mi) southwest ofHavelock Island, roughly a two-hour trip by motor boat.[3]
The island has an oceanic climate moderated by the surrounding sea. The average temperature varies between about 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F). The island receives much rain during the southwesterlymonsoon season between June and October, and most visitors come between December and April.[3]
One of the main attractions around the tiny Island is shallow water coral reefs with high visibility. These tropical coral reefs are at depths as shallow as 6 ft (1.8 m), and the island is a popular site for snorkelling andscuba diving.[3]
Some of the trees and shrubs present on the island are the rattan palmCalamus palustris, the climbing bambooDinochloa andamanica andParishia insignis,[3]Calophyllum soulattri,Artocarpus,Canarium,Dipterocarpus grandiflorus,Dipterocarpus pilosus,Endospermum chinensis,Hopea odorata,Bombax insigne,Sideroxylon,Aprosa villosula,Baccaurea sapida,Caryota mitis andDinochloa palustris.[4]
The island is too small to support large terrestrial mammals but the sea is teeming with life. Among the animals that make their home here aredugongs,water lizards,sea turtles,dolphins andblue whales. The fish to be seen off-shore includesnappers,sweetlips,lion fish,angel fish,butterflyfish,devil rays,manta rays andbarracuda, as well asnudibranchs,octopuses andshrimps.[3] Sea turtles breed here, as do theendemicsubspecies of theedible-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and the distinctivewhite-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster).[3]
12°13′26″N93°01′13″E / 12.22389°N 93.02028°E /12.22389; 93.02028
