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Lombenben

Ambae

Shield volcano · Vanuatu · 1496m

Two lakes of variable color lie with the summit caldera of Ambae volcano, as seen in this view from the W. The light blue lake in the foreground is Lake Voui (or Vui), which is enclosed in the crater of a tuff ring within the summit caldera. The dark blue Lake Manaro Lakua lies between the tuff ring and the E caldera wall. Ambae, the most voluminous volcano of the New Hebrides archipelago, forms a 16 x 38 km island. Pentecost Island appears in the background.
Two lakes of variable color lie with the summit caldera of Ambae volcano, as seen in this view from the W. The light blue lake in the foreground is Lake Voui (or Vui), which is enclosed in the crater of a tuff ring within the summit caldera. The dark blue Lake Manaro Lakua lies between the tuff ring and the E caldera wall. Ambae, the most voluminous volcano of the New Hebrides archipelago, forms a 16 x 38 km island. Pentecost Island appears in the background. · Photo: Photo by Karoly Nemeth, 2005 (Massey University). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Shield volcano
Country
Vanuatu
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Vanuatu Volcanic Arc
Elevation
1496m
Coordinates
-15.389, 167.835
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

The island of Ambae, also known as Aoba, is a massive 2,500 km3 basaltic shield that is the most voluminous volcano of the New Hebrides archipelago. A pronounced NE-SW-trending rift zone with numerous scoria cones gives the 16 x 38 km island an elongated form. A broad pyroclastic cone containing three crater lakes (Manaro Ngoru, Voui, and Manaro Lakua) is located at the summit within the youngest of at least two nested calderas, the largest of which is 6 km in diameter. That large central edifice is also called Manaro Voui or Lombenben volcano. Post-caldera explosive eruptions formed the summit craters about 360 years ago. A tuff cone was constructed within Lake Voui (or Vui) about 60 years later. The latest known flank eruption, about 300 years ago, destroyed the population of the Nduindui area near the western coast.

From Wikipedia

Manaro Voui, or Manaro Vui, is a shield volcano whose emergent portion is known as the island of Ambae in Vanuatu. The summit is 1,496 metres (4,908 ft) above sea level and about 3,900 m (12,800 ft) above the sea floor. According to indigenous custom Chief Virenaliu Paul Vuhu, the summit's valley and lakes are considered the "sacred place and paradise" where they believe after death, their spirits go to live happily ever after'. The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department maintains a live webcam and seismological chart.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1530~1580 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1629~1679 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21827~1877 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21877~1926 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1976~2025 · 10 eruptions · max VEI 315301629177818771976

Detailed timeline

  1. 2025VEI ?Observed
    2025-11-24 – 2026-03-24
  2. 2024VEI 2Observed
    2024-06-29 – 2024-06-30
  3. 2023VEI 2Observed
    2023-02-20 – 2023-05-28
  4. 2023VEI 2Observed
    2023-12-11 – 2023-12-21
  5. 2021VEI 1Observed
    2021-12-05 – 2022-08-15
  6. 2017VEI 3Observed
    2017-09-06 – 2018-10-30
    Pyroclastic cone in Lake Voui
  7. 2016VEI ?Geological estimate
    2016-08-18 – 2016-08-19
    Caldera area
  8. 2011VEI 1Observed
    2011-06-04 – 2011-07-10
    Lake Manaro
  9. 2005VEI 2Observed
    2005-11-27 – 2006-02-16
    Lake Voui
  10. 1995VEI 2Observed
    1995-03-02 – 1995-03-03
    Lake Voui
  11. 1915 (±1 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1915 – Ongoing
  12. 1870VEI 2Observed
    1870 – Ongoing
    SE side Lake Manaro Lakua; Lake Voui?
  13. 1670VEI 2Geological estimate
    1670 – Ongoing
    Lake Voui and upper west flank
  14. 1530VEI ?Geological estimate
    1530 – Ongoing
    Lakes Voui and Manaro Ngoru

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.