Barren Island

Barren Island lies in the Andaman Sea about 138 km northeast of Sri Vijaya Puram and is South Asia's only active volcano, with its latest eruption in 2017. The island covers roughly 3 sq km, almost all of it volcanic cones and ash with little plant cover, and its crater still smokes.

Volcanic activity here goes back more than a million years, with several eruptions recorded in recent centuries, and scientists study the island to learn how eruptions affect the environment. Coral reefs ring it, and its waters draw experienced divers able to cope with the difficult conditions.