Kavaratti Island
   Chart No 2023

   General information
   2.509
   Position. 
   Kavaratti Island (10º 34' N, 72º 38' E) lies about 30 miles NE of Suheli Par (2.507); the channel separating them is deep and free from charted dangers.

   Description.

   The island, is low lying and densely covered with coconut palms about 27 m high and it occupies the SE side of the atoll, the lagoon on the NW
   side is enclosed by a barrier reef which lies almost parallel to the island about 6 cables offshore. See 2.478 for further description.
   The office of the Administrator for Lakshadweep is situated on this island. The N part of island is more heavily populated.
   
   Industry. 

   Export of Coconut mats and coir ropes to the mainland is the main source of income.

   Depths.

   The island and barrier reef are steep-to except at their SSW ends where a bank, about 5 cables wide, with depths of less than 50 m
   extends 7 cables from shore.
   
   Traffic.

   An average of 15 vessels visits the island annually with approx dwt. 21000 Tons.
   
   Tidal streams.

   In the month of October, the in-going stream was observed to set SE and the out-going NW, near the island, each with
   a rate from ½ to 1 kn.
   
   Landmarks:

   Kavaratti Island Lighthouse (white concrete tower, 38 m in height) (10º 33'.7 N, 72º 38'.9 E), stands on the SE point of the island.
   
   Port Office (10º 34'.5 N, 72º 38'.8 E), stands on the NE point of the island.
   
   Major light: Kavaratti Island Light-as above.

   Useful mark:
   Light-beacon (white round concrete tower, black bands) (10º 34'.8 N, 72º 38'.5 E), stands near the E extremity of the barrier reef.
   
   Lagoon.
   Within the lagoon depths are generally shallow and there are large areas of isolated rocks in its NW and SW parts.
   Two jetties are situated on the N part of the NW side of the island.
   There is a channel leading into the lagoon from its NE end. The channel is marked, on the W side of its entrance, by the light-beacon
   (described above) and by two more light-beacons (port and starboard hand, shown from September to May) situated close SE of the entrance;
   thence, the channel between the reef and the shoal water fringing the island is marked by light-buoys. Local knowledge of the channel is required
   before entry.
   
   Anchorage.
   Anchorage may be obtained, during the NE monsoon and in fair weather, on the shoal which extends SSW from the S end of the island, in depths of
   from 7 to 15 m, sand and coral, as shown on the chart.
   
   Mooring.
   A buoy is laid off the SE point of the island.
   
   Development.
   Constructions are in progress, once completed, will provide two breakwaters and an L-shaped jetty, with limited maintenance facilities, for two
   catamaran inter-island ferries.
   
   Description.
   The islet is low lying and there are hardly any vegetation on it but had several stone cairns, about 6 m in height, standing upon it; the N and NE
   sides are sandy and there is a black rock on its E side.
   
   Depths.
   The island with a maximum width of 11miles lies on a bank of sand and coral, that extends about 3 miles S and 24 miles NNE of it; depths over this
   bank may be less than charted as it has not been fully examined.

   Landing is practicable only during good weather and only possible on the N side of Pitti.