Barren Island (Andaman Islands)

Barren Island is an island located in the Andaman Sea. It is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia,[8][9][10][11] and the only active volcano along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar.[12] It is a part of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and lies about 138 km (86 mi) northeast of the territory's capital, Port Blair.

Barren Island
Barren Island
Location of Barren Island
Barren Island
Barren Island (Bay of Bengal)
Geography
LocationBay of Bengal
Coordinates12.28°N 93.86°E / 12.28; 93.86
ArchipelagoAndaman Islands
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Barren Island
Area8.34 km2 (3.22 sq mi)[1]
Length3.4 km (2.11 mi)
Width3.1 km (1.93 mi)
Coastline12.38 km (7.693 mi)
Highest elevation353 m (1158 ft)[2]
Administration
DistrictNorth and Middle Andaman
Island groupAndaman Islands
Island sub-groupEast Volcano Islands
TalukRangat Taluk
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited (2017)
Additional information
Time zone
PIN744202[3]
Telephone code031927 [4]
ISO codeIN-AN-00[5]
Official websiteandaman.nic.in
Avg. summer temperature30.2 °C (86.4 °F)
Avg. winter temperature23.0 °C (73.4 °F)
Census Code35.639.0004
Barren Volcano
Barren Island erupting in 1995
Highest point
Elevation353 m (1,158 ft) 
Listing
Geography
LocationAndaman Islands, India
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano with pyroclastic cones
Last eruption2020[6] [7]
For other uses, see Barren Island.

History
An illustration of the island in 1789

The first recorded eruption of the volcano dates back to 1787. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than ten times, with the most recent one being in 2017.[6] After the first recorded eruption in 1787, further eruptions were recorded in 1789, 1795, 1803–04, and 1852. After nearly one and a half century of dormancy, the island had another eruption in 1991 that lasted six months and caused considerable damage.[13][14]

The 1991 eruption was particularly harmful to the island's fauna. A team from the Geological Survey of India visited Barren Island on 8–9 April 1993 to assess the impact of the eruption on the distribution, habit, and abundance of animal species. The report found that the eruption had reduced the number of bird species and their population. The team only observed 6 of the 16 known species of birds on the island. The Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) was the most abundant among the 6 species observed. In a survey conducted at night, the team spotted one rat species (Rattus rattus) and 51 species of insects from eight orders. The report also noted that the volcano was still emitting gas at the time.[12] There were eruptions in 1994–95 and 2005–07, the latter considered to be linked to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[13] A lighthouse that was established in 1993 was destroyed by the recent eruptions.[15]

A team from the National Institute of Oceanography spotted the volcano erupting on 23 January 2017. Abhay Mudholkar, the head of the team, said, "The volcano is erupting in small episodes of about five to ten minutes. During the day, only ash clouds were observed. However, after sundown, red lava fountains were spewing from the crater into the atmosphere and hot lava flowed streaming down its slopes."[16][17][18]

Based on Argon-argon dating of samples from Barren Island, it is now established that the oldest subaerial lava flows of the volcano are 1.6 million years old and the volcano is located on an oceanic crust which is roughly 106 million years old.[19] All recorded eruptions lie on the low end of the Volcanic Explosivity Index. The 2017 eruption was recorded as a 2 on the index.[12]

Geography

This volcanic island stands in the midst of a volcanic belt on the edge of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates. Narcondam Island is a dormant volcano in the area, apart from volcanic seamounts like Alcock and Sewell. All the historical and recent eruptions (1789 and after) are confined within and around an active polygenetic cinder cone in a 2 km (1.2 mi) wide caldera that was formed by the Pleistocene collapse of a primitive cone of a stratovolcano. The remnant of the primitive volcanic cone forms a precipitous cliff around the island (commonly referred to as caldera wall), with a break towards the west. The highest elevation on the island is 353 m (1,158 ft), with most of the primitive volcano underwater (standing on the seafloor 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) below sea level). The island is 3 km (1.9 mi) in diameter, with a total surface area of 8.34 km2 (3.22 sq mi).[20]

Biodiversity

True to its name, it has large areas of barren landscape.[12] It is uninhabited by humans, though it has a small population of goats.[21] Also birds, bats like flying foxes and a few rodent species such as rats are known to survive the harsh conditions.[22]

Tourist Attractions

The waters surrounding Barren Island are reputed to be among the world's top scuba diving destinations. Major attractions here are the crystal clear visibility, Manta Rays, interesting basalt formations, topography of past lava flows and fast growing coral gardens. This dive destination is remote but can be accessed by either a live aboard ship or with scuba-operators based at Havelock Island.[23][24]

Administration

It belongs to the North and Middle Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[25]

Demographics

The island is uninhabited.[26]

  • Barren Island erupts
  • Outline map of the Andaman Islands, with the location of Barren Island highlighted (red circle)
  • Topography of the island

See also

References
  1. "Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census" (PDF). Government of Andaman. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  2. Sailing Directions (Enroute), Pub. 173: India and the Bay of Bengal (PDF). Sailing Directions. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 274.
  3. "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 2016-09-22. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2016-09-22.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. code
  5. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  6. "Barren Island". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
  7. "Barren Island volcano". 19 Feb 2018.
  8. Priya Srivastava (2018-11-21). "All about Barren Island, South Asia's Only Active Volcano in Andaman". Times of Indian.
  9. Benjamin Elisha Sawe. "Which Is The Only Active Volcano In South Asia?". Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  10. Dr. Aditi Jain. "Volcanic spewing in Barren Island is continuation of 2005 eruption". Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  11. Rashmi Mishra. "List of Volcanoes in India: The only Indian live Volcano at Andaman & Nicobar Islands is Active again!". Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  12. Koshy, Jacob. "Why did Barren Island volcano erupt again?". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  13. Jørgen S. Aabech. "Barren Island, Andaman Islands, Indian Ocean". Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  14. Mallet, F.R. (1895). "Bibliography of Barren Island and Narcondam, from 1884 to 1894". Records of the Geological Survey of India. 28: 34–38.
  16. "NIO finds Andaman volcano spewing lava - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. "India's only live volcano active again: National Institute of Oceanography". The Indian Express. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  18. "Barren Island volcano, India's only live volcano, became active in January". hindustantimes.com/. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  19. Ray et al., Bull Volcanol 77: 57, 2015
  20. "Barren Island Volcano, Indian Ocean - facts & information". Volcanodiscovery.com. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  21. G. S. Mudur (3 August 2003). "Mystery that got science's goat - Barren Island puzzle solved: springs, not special kidneys, sustain animals". The Telegraph (Kolkata). Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  22. "Scientific Expedition to Barren Island (Andaman Islands, Indian Ocean)". 2003. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  23. Miranda Krestovnikoff; Monty Halls (17 July 2006). Scuba Diving. DK Publishing. pp. 275–. ISBN 978-0-7566-4063-7.
  24. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Scuba-dive-at-an-active-volcano-on-Barren-Island-in-Andamans/articleshow/25837581.cms
  25. "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  26. "Volcano news & eruption updates: Barren Island". Retrieved 2019-10-17.
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