Monday, July 18, 2011

Barren Island in Andamans

The only live volcano in the Indian peninsula. Barren lies around 120 km. north east of Port blair in Andaman sea. This tiny, almost circular island covers an area of about 8 sq.km and has a diameter of about 3 km.
It belongs to general Sunda group and is believed to have born out of an eruption which occured during the late Pleistocene period. Later in the course of geological evolution the prime gaint cone got transformed to the present day Barren. The existing cone in fact, is the central part of the blown off cauldron.
contrary to its name barren the island is fully covered with lush green forest and is inhabited by 13 species of birds, 10 species of butterflies, 9 species of insects, 7 species of mammals, 6 species of flies, and 2 species each of centipedes and spiders.
The mammals include a stock of feral goats, which have adapted themselves to the terrain and depend on sea water to survive in the absence of a perennial fresh water source on the island. It is believed that the goats reached the island following a shipwrech in the region.

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