India has varied terrain marked by mountain ranges, glaciers, rivers and canyons that have been formed by the volcanoes that erupted over millions of years ago. The nation has many extinct and dormant volcanoes and we have two live volcanoes that can erupt at any moment to change the topography further. So, what are volcanoes besides a vast chasm in a tall mountain that spouts fiery lava?
Different Types of Volcanoes
What is a volcano?
When the earth's tectonic plates are disturbed, they crack the earth's crust and the heat trapped underneath causes the rocks to melt and create magma. When the pressure of the magma builds, it escapes through the cracks and shoots up to the surface. Lava is the liquid magma which spurts onto the surface and flows down the vent. The whole process of the disturbance which causes magma from the earth's crust as lava on the earth's surface is called a volcano.
Lava is composed of rocks, ash and various gases. Volcanoes can be found in many places in the world, some are even underwater.
Different Types of Volcanoes
Stratovolcano
Stratovolcanoes, also known as composite volcanoes, are characterized by their steep-sided cones built up by alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, cinders, and volcanic rocks.
Shield Volcano
Shield volcanoes have gentle, broad slopes resembling a warrior's shield. They are primarily built up by the fluid basaltic lava flows with low viscosity that can travel long distances from the vent.
Cinder Cone Volcano
Cinder cone volcanoes are the simplest type of volcanic cone. They are built from the accumulation of tephra (fragments of volcanic rock and ash) ejected from a single vent.
Lava Domes
Lava domes, also known as volcanic domes or volcanic mounds, are formed by the slow extrusion of highly viscous lava from a volcanic vent.
The remnants of millions of years old volcanoes
The Raneh waterfall in Madhya Pradesh flows down the igneous rock canyons caused by volcanic eruptions that occurred several million years ago. The entire canyon is made from dolomite and granite which contribute to the beautiful tapestry of colours and are mined for several purposes. Raneh is an example of an extinct volcano, which is a volcano that hasn’t erupted in human history. Mostly, these volcanoes are unlikely to erupt again, but it isn’t unheard of for an extinct volcano to re-erupt.
Other extinct volcanoes in India are -
Dhinodhar, Gujarat
Loktak Lake, Manipur
Deccan Plateau, Karnataka
Dhosi Hills and Tosham Hills, Haryana
How many volcanoes are there in india
India has a total of eight volcanoes, with only one Barren Island currently active. The rest are dormant, including several mud volcanoes. The most recent eruption among these volcanoes occurred in 2017. Barren Island, which is the sole active volcano in the region stretching from Sumatra to Myanmar, is located in the Andaman Sea. This volcanic island is a popular tourist destination, known for its Barren Volcano
The dormant volcanoes of India
Dormant volcanoes have mostly not erupted for around 10,000 years and may erupt at any time.
In India, the noted dormant volcano is Narcondam Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which last erupted in 1680. It is a small volcano located in the Northern Andaman Sea and is recorded to have spewed smoke and formed some mud in 2005.
List of active volcanoes in India - 2024
As of 2024, India has two active volcanoes - the Barren Island and the Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea and is considered the only active volcano in India currently. It is at a distance of 138 kilometres from Port Blair and its first eruption was in 1787. Since then, it has spewed smoke and heat waves more than 10 times until 2021. The ash clouds and red lava pouring down the slope of the Barren Island volcano mountain can be witnessed after sunset.
Baratang Island is the only example of a mud volcano in India. It is driven by hot water and natural gas instead of molten rock like regular volcanoes. These mud volcanoes erupt periodically with the last eruptions occurring in 2005. This landform is associated with a petroleum deposit and unlike other mud volcanoes, it is not in a large barren field, but has many trees around it.
The Geological Survey of India monitors the activities of the volcanoes and conducts research to identify hazards and potentials of the volcanic deposits. Volcanoes have the potential to produce fertile soil and active volcanoes can be harnessed to produce geothermal energy. Many metals such as gold, copper, lead and zinc are associated with magma.
List of Volcanoes in India in 2024
Name
Elevation (meters)
Elevation (feet)
Coordinates
Location
Last Eruption
Type
State
Barren Island
354
1161
12.278°N 93.858°E
Andaman Islands
Active since 2021
Stratovolcano, Active
Narcondam
710
2329
13.43°N 94.28°E
Andaman Islands
1681
Stratovolcano, Dormant
Deccan Plateau
1500
4920
18.51°N 73.43°E
Central India
25 Mya (Million years ago)
Caldera
Baratang Island
532
1745
12.07°N 92.47°E
Andaman Islands
Active since 2003
Mud volcanoes, Active
Dhinodhar Hills
386
1266.4
23.45°N 69.34°E
Gujarat
500 Mya (Million years ago)
Extinct
Dhosi Hill
740
2427
28.06°N 76.03°E
Haryana
750 Mya (Million years ago)
Extinct
Tosham Hills
207
679
28.88°N 75.92°E
Haryana
732 Mya (Million years ago)
Extinct
Loktak Lake
768
2519.04
24.45°N 93.47°E
Manipur
100 Mya (Million years ago)
Supervolcanic caldera, status unknown
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A volcano is formed when the earth's tectonic plates shift, causing cracks in the earth's crust. The heat from beneath melts the rocks, creating magma. When pressure builds, this magma escapes through cracks and reaches the surface as lava, a mixture of molten rock, ash, and gases.
Volcanoes are primarily classified into two types: stratovolcanoes and shield volcanoes. Derived types include cinder cone volcanoes and lava domes.
Stratovolcanoes, or composite volcanoes, have steep-sided slopes formed from highly viscous magma. They consist of alternating layers of lava flow, volcanic ash, cinders, and bombs.
Shield volcanoes form from fluid lava with low viscosity, spreading far from the vent and creating gentle slopes. They are primarily composed of basalt.
Cinder cone volcanoes are the simplest type, formed from particles and blobs of congealed lava ejected from a single vent. They usually have bowl-shaped craters and are the most common volcano type.
Lava domes are formed from highly viscous lava that doesn't flow far, creating bulbous masses around the volcano's vent. They grow by internal expansion and often occur within or on the flanks of stratovolcanoes.
An extinct volcano hasn't erupted in human history and is unlikely to erupt again, though it's not impossible. Examples in India include Raneh in Madhya Pradesh, Dhinodhar in Gujarat, Loktak Lake in Manipur, and Dhosi Hills in Haryana.
Dormant volcanoes haven't erupted in about 10,000 years but may erupt again. Narcondam Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is an example, with its last eruption recorded in 1680.
India has two active volcanoes: Barren Island and Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Barren Island, located in the Andaman Sea, last erupted in 2021. Baratang Island has mud volcanoes driven by hot water and natural gas.
Baratang Island features a mud volcano, driven by hot water and natural gas rather than molten rock. It periodically erupts, with the last recorded eruptions in 2005.
The Geological Survey of India monitors volcanic activity to identify hazards and potentials. Volcanoes can produce fertile soil, geothermal energy, and are associated with valuable metals like gold, copper, lead, and zinc.
The Raneh waterfall in Madhya Pradesh flows down canyons formed from ancient volcanic eruptions. The region is made of dolomite and granite, showcasing the diverse effects of volcanic activity on the landscape.
List of Volcanoes in India (2024):
Barren Island (Andaman Islands)
Baratang Island (Andaman Islands)
Narcondam Volcano (Andaman Islands)
Dhosi Hill (Haryana)
Tosham Hill (Haryana)
Loktak Lake (Manipur)
Dhinodhar Hills (Gujarat)
How Many active volcanoes in India as of 2024:
India has one active volcano:
Barren Island (Andaman Islands)
How Many Dormant Volcanoes in India 2024:
India has one known dormant volcano:
Narcondam Island (Andaman Islands). Although it emitted smoke and mud in 2005, it has been dormant since then.
The biggest volcano in India is the Barren Island Volcano. It is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
India has several notable volcanoes, including:
Narcondam Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Kamban (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Baratang Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu)
Kariyapatti (Tamil Nadu)
Sakri (Madhya Pradesh)
(Note: The classification and number can vary depending on sources and criteria.)
The biggest volcano in India is the Barren Island Volcano. It is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
India has several notable volcanoes, including:
Narcondam Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Kamban (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Baratang Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu)
Kariyapatti (Tamil Nadu)
Sakri (Madhya Pradesh)
(Note: The classification and number can vary depending on sources and criteria.)
The biggest volcano in the world by volume and area is Mauna Loa in Hawaii, USA. It is one of the five volcanoes that form the Big Island of Hawaii and covers an area of about 2,035 square miles (5,271 square kilometers).
No, Tiruvannamalai is not a volcano. It is a hill with a large ancient temple, and while it is often mistaken for a volcanic formation, it is not classified as a volcano.
The Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu are considered ancient and extinct volcanoes, but there is no specific "dead" volcano designation in India.
No, there are no active volcanoes in Kerala. The state is not known for volcanic activity.
The four main types of volcanoes are:
Shield Volcanoes (e.g., Mauna Loa in Hawaii)
Stratovolcanoes (e.g., Mount Fuji in Japan)
Cinder Cones (e.g., Paricutin in Mexico)
Lava Domes (e.g., Novarupta Lava Dome in Alaska)
Indonesia has the most volcanoes of any country in the world, with over 130 active volcanoes due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Yes, there are volcanic formations in Tamil Nadu, such as the Nilgiri Hills, which are ancient volcanic formations.
The tallest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado, located on the border between Chile and Argentina. It stands at approximately 22,615 feet (6,893 meters) above sea level.
Lava temperatures typically range between 1,300 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (700 to 1,200 degrees Celsius), depending on its type and composition.
This can vary depending on criteria such as activity, height, or impact. Generally, Kilauea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii are among the most famous due to their frequent eruptions and significant impact on volcanic studies.
Barren Island is the only active volcano in India. It has had several eruptions in recent decades, with the most recent one occurring in 2017.
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