Baratang
Encyclopedia
Baratang, less commonly known as Baratang Island, (coordinates: 12°07′N 92°47′E) is an island in the Andaman Islands
, India
, with an area of approximately 238 square kilometres (91.9 sq mi). It is one of the main island
s of the Great Andaman
group, a closely set archipelago
in the Bay of Bengal
, adjoining the Andaman Sea
. Middle Andaman is to its north, and South Andaman to the south. The islands of Ritchie's Archipelago
lie some 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) to the east. Port Blair
, the capital of the Indian Union Territory
of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is located approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) to the south.
Baratang contains the only known examples of mud volcano
es in India. These mud volcanoes have erupted sporadically, with recent eruptions in 2005 believed to have been associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
. The previous major eruption recorded was on 18 February 2003. The locals call this mud volcano jalki.
There are other volcanoes in the area. The Barren Island
volcano which is the only active volcano in South Asia
and the Narcondum volcano which is considered to be a potentially active volcano.
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, with an area of approximately 238 square kilometres (91.9 sq mi). It is one of the main island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s of the Great Andaman
Great Andaman
Great Andaman is the main archipelago of the Andaman Islands of India. It comprises five major islands. From north to south, these are North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Baratang and Rutland Island...
group, a closely set archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
in the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, adjoining the Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
. Middle Andaman is to its north, and South Andaman to the south. The islands of Ritchie's Archipelago
Ritchie's Archipelago
Ritchie's Archipelago is a cluster of smaller islands which lie some east of Great Andaman, the main island group of the Andaman Islands. the Andamans are located in the Bay of Bengal, bordering with the Andaman Sea and are some south of the nearest Asian mainland, Cape Negrais in Myanmar.The...
lie some 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) to the east. Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
, the capital of the Indian Union Territory
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...
of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is located approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) to the south.
Baratang contains the only known examples of mud volcano
Mud volcano
The term mud volcano or mud dome are used to refer to formations created by geo-excreted liquids and gases, although there are several different processes which may cause such activity. Hot water mixes with mud and surface deposits. Mud volcanoes are associated with subduction zones and about 700...
es in India. These mud volcanoes have erupted sporadically, with recent eruptions in 2005 believed to have been associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
. The previous major eruption recorded was on 18 February 2003. The locals call this mud volcano jalki.
There are other volcanoes in the area. The Barren Island
Barren Island (Andaman Islands)
Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, one of the most easterly of the Andaman Islands. It is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia...
volcano which is the only active volcano in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and the Narcondum volcano which is considered to be a potentially active volcano.