Barren Island (Andaman Islands) Explained

Barren Island
Map:India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
Coordinates:12.28°N 93.86°W
Location:Bay of Bengal
Archipelago:Andaman Islands
Waterbody:Indian Ocean
Total Islands:1
Area Km2:8.34
Area Footnotes:[1]
Length Km:3.4
Width Km:3.1
Coastline Km:12.38
Elevation M:353
Country: India
Country Admin Divisions Title:District
Country Admin Divisions:North and Middle Andaman
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Island group
Country Admin Divisions 1:Andaman Islands
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Island sub-group
Country Admin Divisions 2:East Volcano Islands
Country Admin Divisions Title 3:Taluk
Country Admin Divisions 3:Rangat Taluk
Population:Uninhabited
Population As Of:2017
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:744202[2]
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Area Code:031927 [3]
Iso Code Type:ISO code
Iso Code:IN-AN-00[4]
Additional Info:
Child:yes
Label3:Avg. summer temperature
Label4:Avg. winter temperature
Label7:Census Code
Data7:35.639.0004
Barren Volcano
Elevation M:354
Location:Andaman Islands, India
Last Eruption:2022
Type:Stratovolcano with pyroclastic cones
Fetchwikidata:ALL

Barren Island is an island located in the Andaman Sea. It is the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent,[5] [6] [7] [8] and the only active volcano along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar. It is a part of the Indian Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and lies about northeast of the territory's capital, Port Blair.

History

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 2022.[9] 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.[10] [11]

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. There were eruptions in 1994 - 95 and 2005 - 07, the latter considered to be linked to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[10] A lighthouse that was established in 1993 was destroyed by the recent eruptions.[12]

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."[13] [14] [15]

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.[16] All recorded eruptions lie on the low end of the Volcanic Explosivity Index. The 2017 eruption was recorded as a 2 on the index.

Geology

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 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 a caldera wall), with a break towards the west. The highest elevation on the island is, with most of the primitive volcano underwater (standing on the seafloor 2250m (7,380feet) below sea level). The island is in diameter, with a total surface area of .[17] The rock types are basalt and andesite, with activity reported in late 2022.[9]

Biodiversity

The island is a protected area under Barren Island Wild Life Sanctuary.

True to its name, it has large areas of barren landscape.[18] It is uninhabited by humans, though it has a small population of goats.[19] Additionally, birds like pigeons, bats like flying foxes and a few rodent species such as rats are known to survive the harsh conditions.[20]

A small population of feral goats was also found on the island, which surprised geologists. Later, it was found that they were surviving on two fresh water springs and thick vegetation.[21] These goats were kept there by British sailors from a steamer leaving Port Blair in 1891.[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 Swaraj Island.[23] [24]

Administration

Barren Island 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]

Image gallery

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census . Government of Andaman . 22 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015509/http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf . 28 August 2017 . dead.
  2. Web site: A&N Islands - Pincodes . 22 September 2016 . 22 September 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140323224041/http://www.india-codes.com/pincodes/a-n-islands-pin-code . 23 March 2014.
  3. Web site: STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar . 25 May 2017 . All Codes India . 24 October 2021 . 15 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170915125417/http://allcodesindia.in/stdcode/andaman+and+nicobar.php . live .
  4. Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code
  5. News: All about Barren Island, South Asia's Only Active Volcano in Andaman . Priya . Srivastava . 21 November 2018 . Times of India . 27 October 2019 . 20 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191120201034/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/all-about-barren-island-south-asias-only-active-volcano-in-andaman/as66739617.cms . live .
  6. Web site: Which Is The Only Active Volcano In South Asia? . Benjamin Elisha Sawe . 15 March 2019 . 15 March 2019 . 20 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191020231942/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-is-the-only-active-volcano-in-south-asia.html . live .
  7. Web site: Volcanic spewing in Barren Island is continuation of 2005 eruption . Dr. Aditi Jain . 9 February 2018 . 9 February 2018 . 20 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191020231736/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/volcanic-spewing-in-barren-island-is-continuation-of-2005-eruption-study/article22705451.ece . live .
  8. Web site: List of Volcanoes in India: The only Indian live Volcano at Andaman & Nicobar Islands is Active again! . Rashmi . Mishra . 18 February 2017 . 22 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170222062832/http://www.india.com/buzz/list-of-volcanoes-in-india-the-only-indian-live-volcano-at-andaman-nicobar-islands-is-active-again-1851944/ . live .
  9. 260010 . Barren Island . 1 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Barren Island, Andaman Islands, Indian Ocean . Jørgen S. . Aabech . 1 June 2013 . 7 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307010424/http://www.vulkaner.no/v/volcan/submarin/barrenis.html . live .
  11. Mallet, F.R. . Bibliography of Barren Island and Narcondam, from 1884 to 1894 . 28 . Records of the Geological Survey of India . 34–38 . 1895 .
  12. Web site: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships . dgllnoida.gov.in . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130312065539/http://dgllnoida.gov.in/anthaman/BARRAEN.html . 12 March 2013 . dead.
  13. Web site: NIO finds Andaman volcano spewing lava . The Times of India . 18 February 2017.
  14. Web site: India's only live volcano active again: National Institute of Oceanography . The Indian Express . 18 February 2017 . en . 18 February 2017 . 19 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170219002641/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-only-live-volcano-active-again-nio-4531331/ . live .
  15. Web site: Barren Island volcano, India's only live volcano, became active in January . hindustantimes.com/ . 18 February 2017 . en . 18 February 2017 . 19 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170219013602/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/barren-island-volcano-india-s-only-live-volcano-become-active-again-in-january/story-QRFDzVzIsVn1QgV6HHo0cK.html . live .
  16. Ray et al., Bull Volcanol 77: 57, 2015
  17. Web site: Barren Island Volcano, Indian Ocean - facts & information . Volcanodiscovery.com . 1 June 2013 . 14 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130514155114/http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/barren_island.html . live .
  18. News: Koshy . Jacob . Why did Barren Island volcano erupt again? . The Hindu . 26 February 2017 . 26 February 2017 . en . 13 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211013220300/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-barren-islandvolcano-erupts-again/article17369862.ece . live .
  19. News: G. S. Mudur . Mystery that got science's goat - Barren Island puzzle solved: springs, not special kidneys, sustain animals . 21 September 2019 . . 3 August 2003 . en . 21 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190921150527/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mystery-that-got-science-s-goat-barren-island-puzzle-solved-springs-not-special-kidneys-sustain-animals/cid/804481 . live .
  20. Web site: Scientific Expedition to Barren Island (Andaman Islands, Indian Ocean) . 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402212557/http://www.geos.iitb.ac.in/dchandra/biexp/ . 2 April 2012 . 1 June 2013.
  21. Web site: Mystery that got science's goat - Barren Island puzzle solved: springs, not special kidneys, sustain animals . 16 December 2022 . www.telegraphindia.com . 4 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204024753/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mystery-that-got-science-s-goat-barren-island-puzzle-solved-springs-not-special-kidneys-sustain-animals/cid/804481 . live .
  22. Web site: 29 November 2017 . Barren Island Volcano with unique fauna . 16 December 2022 . India.com . en . 16 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221216152633/https://www.india.com/travel/articles/exploring-barren-island-indias-only-active-volcano-3227429/ . live .
  23. Book: Miranda . Krestovnikoff . Monty . Halls . Scuba Diving . registration . 17 July 2006 . DK Publishing . 978-0-7566-4063-7 . 275–.
  24. Web site: Scuba dive at an active volcano on Barren Island in Andamans . The Times of India . Stanley . Pinto . TNN . 15 November 2013 . 24 October 2021 . 24 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211024033502/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/scuba-dive-at-an-active-volcano-on-barren-island-in-andamans/articleshow/25837581.cms . live .
  25. Web site: Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands . Census of India . 16 January 2011 . 5 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160805145307/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-VillageDirectory/Directory/short_code_rural_35.pdf . live .
  26. Web site: Volcano news & eruption updates: Barren Island . 17 October 2019 . 9 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190909181851/https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/barren-island/news.html . live .

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