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The Barrier

Photo of this volcano
  • Kenya
  • Shield
  • 1921 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 2.32°N
  • 36.57°E

  • 1032 m
    3386 ft

  • 222030
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for The Barrier.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for The Barrier.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for The Barrier.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 10 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank (Teleki)
1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1921 Dec 31 ± 365 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1920 ± 3 years ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode South flank (Andrew's Volcano)
1920 ± 3 years - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at South flank (Andrew's Volcano)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain

1917 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Andrew's or Teleki's Volcanoes
1917 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Andrew's or Teleki's Volcanoes

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1917    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1906 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Andrew's or Teleki's Cones
1906 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Andrew's or Teleki's Cones

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Audible Sounds

1897 May (in or before) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank (Teleki) and Likaiu
1897 May (in or before) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki) and Likaiu

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Flames
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1897 May
(in or before)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1895 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank (Teleki's Cone)
1895 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1895    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1888 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank (Teleki's Cone)
1888 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1888    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1871 ± 3 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank (Teleki's Cone)
1871 ± 3 years - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at North flank (Teleki's Cone)

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1871 ± 3 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1090 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank
1090 ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1090 ± 50 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1050 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank
1050 ± 150 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1050 ± 150 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1030 ± 150 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North flank
1030 ± 150 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North flank

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1030 ± 150 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

7710 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode North (Abili Agituk) and south flanks
7710 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Tephrochronology

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at North (Abili Agituk) and south flanks

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for The Barrier.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for The Barrier.

Photo Gallery

The pristine Naboiyoton tuff cone rises above Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. The tuff cone, seen here from the north, is a satellitic cone on the north flank of The Barrier volcano. It rises 180 m above the lake, and was formed by explosive eruptions produced when magma rising up along the East African Rift encountered the waters of Lake Turkana. The age of the tuff cone is not known, but its lower slopes lack erosional terraces created during higher stands of the lake. The lava flow at the top was erupted from The Barrier volcano.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1977.
Naboiyoton tuff cone is seen here across Lake Turkana from the NE with The Barrier shield volcano in the background. The steep slopes and wide crater of the tuff cone produce a flat-topped profile, which is typical of tuff cones. This results from powerful phreatomagmatic eruptions produced by the interaction of magma and water. The Barrier volcano draws its name from its prominent topographic position astride the East African Rift between Lake Turkana and the Sukota Trough to the south.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.
The Barrier volcano separates Lake Turkana from the Suguta Trough to the south, the site of a former lake. The volcano is comprised of four overlapping shield volcanoes. This view looks down the north flank of the volcano with Lake Turkana at the upper right. Holocene fissure-related scoria cones and lava flows, including the historically active Teleki's and Andrew's cones (lower center), dot the volcano's southern and northern flanks. Historical eruptions have produced explosive activity and lava flows during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1978.
A northward-looking aerial view shows the summit caldera of Kakorinya volcano of The Barrier volcanic complex with Lake Turkana in the distance. The 3.8-km-wide summit caldera was formed about 92,000 years ago, and post-caldera lava domes and flows fill much of the caldera floor. Fresh-looking lava flows and tuff cones occur along the shores of Lake Turkana. Teleki's Cone on the northern flank and Andrew's Cone (lower left foreground) on the southern flank have been the source of historical lava flows.

Photo by Martin Smith, 1993 (copyright British Geological Survey, NERC).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for The Barrier in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites