Did you know about India's only active volcano?

Barren Island Volcano: India’s Only Active Volcano in the Andaman Sea

In News:

Minor volcanic eruptions were recorded twice in September 2025 (on the 13th and 20th) at Barren Island, located in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Officials confirmed that the activity was minor and posed no immediate threat to nearby areas. The eruption was captured on video by an Indian Navy patrol ship.

Key Facts:

• Location: Barren Island lies about 135–140 km northeast of Port Blair, in the Andaman Sea, and is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It is the only active volcano in India and South Asia.
• The island covers an area of 8.34 sq. km, with its highest point reaching about 353 metres (1,158 feet) above sea level.
• The island sits at the junction of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, making it geologically active.
• The first recorded eruption occurred in 1787, and since then, more than 10 eruptions have been documented.
• Notable recent eruptions: 1991, 2005, 2017, 2022, and now 2025 (minor).
• The current volcano represents the remnant of a much larger submerged volcanic structure; only its peak forms the visible island.
• The island is uninhabited, and the nearest inhabited areas are Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) and Narcondam Island, around 140–150 km away.

Tourism and Accessibility:

• Due to safety regulations and ongoing volcanic activity, direct access is restricted.
• Tourists are not allowed to land on the island but can view it from ferry tours, chartered boats, or seaplane trips organized by the Andaman Tourism Department.
• The site is a popular attraction for adventure travelers and volcanology enthusiasts, offering spectacular views of smoke plumes and black lava slopes from a safe distance.

Static Part — Key Concepts:

Volcano:

A vent or fissure in the Earth’s crust through which magma, gas, and ash are expelled. Volcanoes often form at tectonic plate boundaries where subduction or rifting occurs.Types of Volcanoes:

• Shield Volcano: Broad, dome-shaped volcanoes formed by low-viscosity lava (e.g., Mauna Loa, Hawaii).
• Stratovolcano (Composite Volcano): Steep-sided, explosive volcanoes with alternating layers of ash and lava.
• Submarine Volcano: Volcanoes that form beneath the ocean surface; when they grow above sea level, they may form islands.

Tectonic Setting:

Barren Island lies on the Indian-Burmese plate boundary, part of the Sunda subduction zone, where the Indian Plate is subducting beneath the Burma Microplate — a process responsible for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity in the Andaman region.

Significance:

• Barren Island provides valuable data for volcanic hazard monitoring and tectonic studies in the Indian Ocean region.
• It is also a key location for studying oceanic island arc volcanism and plate tectonics.
• Its continued activity serves as a reminder of India’s dynamic geological landscape.
  
  Updated - September 23, 2025 1:32 pm | The Hindu