Lakshadweep: The Coral Archipelago

Lakshadweep is India’s smallest UT, an archipelago of 36 atolls in the Arabian Sea. It is ecologically distinct as India’s only region with **coral atolls**. Culturally, it shares close linguistic and social ties with Kerala (Malayalam is widely spoken) but follows a unique matrilineal Muslim tradition. Its economy is driven by tuna fishing, coconut cultivation, and high-value eco-tourism. * **Key Themes:** Coral ecology, matrilineal social customs, and maritime security.