Data Web on Island Environment and Protection (DWIEP)
Coastal and Oceanic Island Database of India
INOD011
Outer Wheeler
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha is an Integrated Test Range missile testing facility. The island was originally named after the English commandant Lieutenant Wheeler. On 4 September 2015, the island was renamed to honour the late Indian President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Continental Island
Odisha State
Bay of Bengal (The island is located offshore of Bhitarkanika National Park)
20°45'25.20" N87°05'02.40" E
1.7 sq.km
Less than 2 sq.km
The island is located near Kendrapara.
The climate of Kendrapara is categorised as 'Aw' i.e., tropical savannah according to the Köppen-Geiger system of climate classification. The annual average temperature is 27.1°C, May being the warmest month at 31.5°C and December, the coldest at 21.4°C. The annual precipitation is 1498 mm with the highest precipitation of 333 mm seen in August. (Source: climate-data.org)
Gently sloping coastal zone with low elevation
Between 2-14 m (Source: SRTM)
Deltaic alluvial and coastal sandy soil. (Source: CGWB Report, 2013)
Groundwater from bore wells, dug wells and tube wells
No information available
Inhabited
No information available
Odia, Hindi and English are the official languages. The local language Odia, along with other lang
No information available
No information available
No information available
7 km
Between 2.5 and 3.5 m (Source: INCOIS, 2010)
Shallow water depth ranging between 0.5-1.0 m (Source: C-Map data)
Internal road networks and boat
No information available
Bhubaneswar, the capital city is located around 140 km from the island. The island can be reached by boats from Dhamra Port located in Bhadrak district
Dhamra Port (Bhadrak)
13 km from Dhamra Port
10 km from Ahirajpur, Bhitarkanika
140 km from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
Coconut plantations and vegetable cultivation
Integrated missile testing facility for research purpose
Missile launching station (Source: Government of India)
None
None
Mangrove with associates, seagrass and other species
Marine crustaceans, molluscs, fishes and sea bird
No information available
Mangrove (on the West and Northwest of the island)
No
Mangrove, mudflat, turtle nesting site
Cyclones, Storm surges, Floods, Coastal erosion, Sea level rise, and Tsunamis
As per the Seismic Zone Map of India, this region is assigned under Moderate Damage Risk Zone III (MSK VII). (Source: NDMA, 2016)
The tsunami run-up height for Kendrapara district is between 1-2 m. (Source: INCOIS, 2010)
The island comes under the region of Very High Damage Risk Zone-B (Vb=50m/s) as per the Wind and Cyclone Vulnerability Map of India. As per the Flood Hazard Map of India, the probable surge height of this region is 4 to 9.5 m. (Source: NDMA, 2016)
Coastal erosion and flooding