Why is Barbados not a volcanic island?

Unlike most of the other islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados is not volcanic in origin, and is therefore relatively flat. It was formed instead by sediment being scraped off the South American plate as it slowly plunges below the Caribbean plate.



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Although there are no volcanoes in Barbados, the ash flow from erupting volcanoes can impact Barbados, these impacts can affect the health, tourism, water and environmental sectors. In 1979, the Soufriere Volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines erupted, the volcanic ash impacted Barbados.

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The physical characteristics of Barbados are its lowlands or gently sloping, terraced plains, separated by rolling hills that generally parallel the coasts. Elevations in the interior range from 180 to 240 meters above sea level. Mount Hillaby is the highest point at 340 meters above sea level.

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Geologic and Tectonic Setting. Barbados is unique in the Lesser Antilles in that, except for minor ash beds, it is not a volcanic island. Rather, the island is composed entirely of sedimentary rocks.

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Swimming safety Currents can be deceptively strong, including on some of the popular beaches on the south and west coasts. Some beaches do not have lifeguards or warning flags. Swimming is not recommended on many of the east coast beaches where currents are particularly strong. Follow local warnings.

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Offshore finance and tourism have been important sources of growth. With strong foundations of economic freedom supported by notable transparency and efficiency, the Barbados government's economic policies are focused on attracting international companies.

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The original name for Barbados in the Pre-Columbian era was Ichirouganaim, according to accounts by descendants of the indigenous Arawakan-speaking tribes in other regional areas, with possible translations including "Red land with white teeth" or "Redstone island with teeth outside (reefs)" or simply "Teeth".

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In 1995, Montserrat was devastated by the catastrophic volcanic eruptions of the Soufrière Hills, which destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, and necessitated the evacuation of a large part of the island.

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More inhabited Caribbean islands outside the hurricane belt besides Curacao are Aruba, Bonaire, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Providencia Island, San Andrés, and the islands off Venezuela.

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Historical Hazards Barbados is located along the hurricane belt where most transatlantic hurricanes pass, which makes Barbados vulnerable to all the major impacts associated with them, including storm surge and flooding.

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Hurricanes only occur occasionally in Barbados. On average, they happen about 5 times a year. However, hurricanes often do not make landfall in Barbados, but turn northward beforehand. The remnants then cause gusts of wind and rain on land.

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Barbados' water supply is very safe and you can drink water directly from the tap. Bottled water is widely available if you prefer. Remember to drink plenty of water (or other fluids) to prevent dehydration.

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Mosquitoes are resident nuisances on the island of Barbados. Of particular threat to the island is the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is a carrier of dengue and yellow fever.

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Water is scarce on the island and Barbados is actually one of the top 15 water scarce countries in the world. Alternatively, tap water is safe to drink in Barbados so you could reduce the number of bottles used on the island by drinking from the tap instead.

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