Barren Island

Barren Island Latest News

Far from the mainland, Barren Island in the Andaman Sea remains the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia and one of India’s strangest territories.

About Barren Island

• It is a volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea.
• It is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises about 2,250 meters from the sea floor, poking 354 meters above sea level.
• It is a part of the Indian union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  
• It lies about 138 kilometers northeast of the territory’s capital, Port Blair.
• It lies above the subduction zone of the India and Burmese plates.
• This island is about three kilometers in diameter and has a big crater of the volcano, about half a kilometer away from the shore. 
  • It is the only active volcano in South Asia. It is the only active volcano among the chain of islands from Myanmar to Sumatra.  
  • It is a stratovolcano composed of lava, rock fragments, and volcanic ash.
  • It has erupted multiple times in recent history, with the most recent significant eruptions occurring in 2017.
• The volcanic zone is devoid of vegetation and covered in sharp basaltic rocks that cover nearly half its area.  
• The island itself is extraordinarily remote and largely uninhabited. 

Source: N18

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