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Kuwae

Caldera · Vanuatu · 2m (submarine)

The forested cliff marks the upper caldera wall of the largely-submarine Kuwae caldera between Epi and Tongoa islands. The 6 x 12 km caldera contains two basins that cut the NW end of Tongoa Island and the flank of the late-Pleistocene or Holocene Tavani Ruru volcano on the SE tip of Epi Island. The Karua volcano lies near the northern rim of the caldera. It has formed several ephemeral islands since it was first observed in eruption during 1897.
The forested cliff marks the upper caldera wall of the largely-submarine Kuwae caldera between Epi and Tongoa islands. The 6 x 12 km caldera contains two basins that cut the NW end of Tongoa Island and the flank of the late-Pleistocene or Holocene Tavani Ruru volcano on the SE tip of Epi Island. The Karua volcano lies near the northern rim of the caldera. It has formed several ephemeral islands since it was first observed in eruption during 1897. · Photo: Photo by Karoly Nemeth, 2005 (Massey University). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Caldera
Country
Vanuatu
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Vanuatu Volcanic Arc
Elevation
2m (submarine)
Coordinates
-16.830, 168.523
Last eruption
1974
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
Landform
Caldera
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

The largely submarine Kuwae caldera occupies the area between Epi and Tongoa islands. The 6 x 12 km caldera contains two basins that cut the NW end of Tongoa Island and the flank of the Tavani Ruru volcano on the SE peninsula of Epi Island. Native legends and radiocarbon dates from pyroclastic-flow deposits have been correlated with a 1452 CE ice-core peak thought to be associated with collapse of Kuwae caldera; however, others considered the deposits to be of smaller-scale eruptions and the ice-core peak to be associated with another unknown major South Pacific eruption. The submarine Karua cone in the east-central part of the caldera has formed several ephemeral islands since it was first observed in eruption during 1897.

From Wikipedia

Kuwae was a landmass that existed in the vicinity of Tongoa and was destroyed by volcanic eruption in fifteenth century, probably through caldera subsidence. The exact location of the caldera is debated. A submarine caldera, now known as Kuwae caldera and which is located between the Epi and Tongoa islands, is a candidate. Kuwae caldera cuts through the flank of the Tavani Ruru volcano on Epi and the northwestern end of Tongoa. Another potential candidate is a proposed caldera between Tongoa and Tongariki.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1425~1481 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1869~1925 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21925~1980 · 15 eruptions · max VEI 314251536170318141925

Detailed timeline

  1. 1980VEI 0Geological estimate
    1980-08-20 – Ongoing
    Karua
  2. 1979VEI 0Geological estimate
    1979-09-16 – Ongoing
    Karua
  3. 1977VEI 0Geological estimate
    1977-02-01 – Ongoing
    Karua
  4. 1974VEI 0Observed
    1974-02-04 – 1974-09-16
    Karua
  5. 1973VEI 0Geological estimate
    1973-05-05 – 1973-10-16
    Karua
  6. 1972VEI 0Geological estimate
    1972-03-05 – 1972-05-15
    Karua
  7. 1971VEI 2Observed
    1971-02-22 – 1971-02-22
    Karua
  8. 1970VEI 0Geological estimate
    1970-09-12 – 1970-09-20
    Karua
  9. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-09-18 – 1959-09-20
    Karua
  10. 1958VEI 2Observed
    1958-10-07 – 1958-12-18
    Karua
  11. 1953VEI 1Observed
    1953-02-12 – Ongoing
    Karua
  12. 1952VEI 1Observed
    1952-10-03 – 1952-10-03
    Karua
  13. 1949VEI 3Observed
    1949-04 – Ongoing
    Karua
  14. 1949VEI 3Observed
    1949-10 – 1949-12
    Karua
  15. 1948VEI 2Observed
    1948-09-22 – 1948-09-29
    Karua
  16. 1923VEI 2Observed
    1923 – 1925
    Karua
  17. 1897VEI 1Observed
    1897-05-25 – 1901
    Karua
  18. 1425 (±5 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1425 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.