Question

Which one of the following is the largest Biosphere reserve in terms of Geographical area?

• A. Gulf of Mannar
• B. Sunderbans
• C. Nilgiris
• D. Great Nicobar

Hint:

Remember the top 3 largest Biosphere Reserves in India by area: 1. Great Rann of Kutch, 2. Gulf of Mannar, 3. Sunderbans. Also, remember the first one established: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to identify the largest Biosphere Reserve in India based on its total geographical area.

Step 2: Comparing the Areas of the Biosphere Reserves
Let's look at the approximate total areas of the given biosphere reserves:


(A) Gulf of Mannar: Located in Tamil Nadu, this marine biosphere reserve covers an area of approximately 10,500 sq km.

(B) Sunderbans: Located in West Bengal, it covers an area of approximately 9,630 sq km.

(C) Nilgiris: Spanning across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, it was the first biosphere reserve in India. It covers an area of approximately 5,520 sq km.

(D) Great Nicobar: Located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it covers an area of approximately 8,850 sq km.

The largest biosphere reserve in India is actually the Great Rann of Kutch (12,454 sq km), but it is not listed as an option. Among the given options, the Gulf of Mannar has the largest area.

Step 3: Final Answer
Comparing the areas of the four options, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is the largest. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.