Coco Channel
Topic: India: Location, Size, Extent and Divisions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Coco Channel is a narrow stretch of sea between India's North Andaman Island and Myanmar's Coco Islands. It lies in the northern Bay of Bengal. China is reported to have helped Myanmar build facilities on the Coco Islands (verify current). So this channel matters for the safety of India's eastern sea border. It also lies near the sea routes that lead towards the Malacca Strait.
Example
A ship sailing north from Port Blair past North Andaman Island reaches the Coco Channel. Myanmar's Coco Islands lie just across it.
Don't confuse with
- Six Degree Channel: this lies at the southern end of India's islands, between Indira Point (Great Nicobar) and Indonesia's Sumatra.
- Ten Degree Channel: this separates the Andaman group from the Nicobar group. Both groups belong to India.