North Sentinel Island, located in the Indian Ocean, is a mysterious and isolated place that has been closed off to the public. The island is home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe that has lived there for approximately 60,000 years with minimal contact with the outside world. Due to their isolation, the tribe lacks immunity to common diseases, making it dangerous for outsiders to visit. The Indian government has put in place restrictions to protect the island and its inhabitants, but there have been instances of fishermen and missionaries attempting to make contact, resulting in violent confrontations and even death. The island remains one of the most poorly studied places on Earth, with scientists relying on limited observations and speculation to understand the Sentinelese way of life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. North Sentinel Island is located in the Indian Ocean.
2. The island is approximately 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) in size.
3. The island is completely closed to the public, including tourists and scientists.
4. The island is home to the Sentinelese people, one of the Andaman indigenous peoples.
5. The Sentinelese people have lived on the island for approximately 60,000 years in almost complete self-isolation.
6. The population of the island is estimated to be between 15 and 400 people.
7. The Sentinelese people are described as relatively short, with an average height of about 165 centimeters (5.5 feet).
8. They have dark, shiny skin and strong muscles.
9. The Sentinelese people are hunter-gatherers and use bows, arrows, and spears to hunt land animals.
10. They collect seafood by hand, such as crabs and shellfish.
11. The Sentinelese people do not engage in agriculture.
12. They can build canoes, but it is not clear whether they know how to make fire.
13. The Indian government administers the island, but there is no agreement between the government and the Sentinelese people.
14. The island is protected to prevent diseases from the mainland from reaching the Sentinelese people.
15. Indian border patrol boats periodically patrol the coastal waters to prevent unauthorized access to the island.
16. The Sentinelese people have a history of being hostile to outsiders and have attacked and killed several people who have attempted to visit the island.
17. In 2006, two Indian fishermen were killed by the Sentinelese people after they drifted too close to the island.
18. In 2018, American missionary John Allen Chao was killed by the Sentinelese people after he attempted to make contact with them.
19. The Indian government has put in place measures to protect the Sentinelese people and the island, including a three-mile buffer zone around the island.