As the name suggests the island is totally barren except for a few trees on the coast line. There are some wild goats which inhabit the island. It’s a wonder that these goats live on sea water. A few of them even survived the volcano eruption of 1990.
The erupted lava on the Barren Island has formed the shape of a frustum of a cone surrounded by shapely ring lava dump on the periphery. It considered as an extinguished volcano till it erupted again in 1990. The eruptions continued in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Earlier eruptions were recorded in 1795 and 1803.
The Lighted beacon was established on Barren Island in 1982. The DA gas flasher in 300 mm optical equipment was installed on a 12m GI trestle tower. The light was commissioned on 7th March 1982. The volcano of 1990 destroyed the Lighthouse completely. Since the eruptions continued it has not been possible to re-establish the lighthouse. |
