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New Zealand · Stratovolcano

Whakaari / White Island

Whakaari/White Island

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
294m
Last eruption
2026
Whakaari / White Island
Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
New Zealand
Region
Tonga & Kermadec / Taupo Volcanic Arc
Elevation
294m
Coordinates
-37.520, 177.180
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic andesite
Geological summary

The uninhabited Whakaari/White Island is the 2 x 2.4 km emergent summit of a 16 x 18 km submarine volcano in the Bay of Plenty about 50 km offshore of North Island. The island consists of two overlapping andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes. The SE side of the crater is open at sea level, with the recent activity centered about 1 km from the shore close to the rear crater wall. Volckner Rocks, sea stacks that are remnants of a lava dome, lie 5 km NW. Descriptions of volcanism since 1826 have included intermittent moderate phreatic, phreatomagmatic, and Strombolian eruptions; activity there also forms a prominent part of Maori legends. The formation of many new vents during the 19th and 20th centuries caused rapid changes in crater floor topography. Collapse of the crater wall in 1914 produced a debris avalanche that buried buildings and workers at a sulfur-mining project. Explosive activity in December 2019 took place while tourists were present, resulting in many fatalities. The official government name Whakaari/White Island is a combination of the full Maori name of Te Puia o Whakaari ("The Dramatic Volcano") and White Island (referencing the constant steam plume) given by Captain James Cook in 1769.

Eruption history

43 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1826~1846 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21846~1866 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21866~1886 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21886~1906 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21906~1926 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 21926~1946 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 31946~1966 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 31966~1986 · 9 eruptions · max VEI 31986~2006 · 6 eruptions · max VEI 32006~2026 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 218261866192619662006

Detailed timeline

  1. 2026VEI ?Observed
    2026-03-10 – 2026-03-24
  2. 2025VEI 1Observed
    2025-08-28 – 2025-08-28
  3. 2024VEI 1Observed
    2024-05-24 – 2025-05-13
  4. 2019VEI 2Observed
    2019-12-09 – 2019-12-09
    1978/90 Crater Complex
  5. 2016VEI 1Observed
    2016-04-27 – 2016-04-27
    1978/90 Crater Complex
  6. 2016VEI 1Observed
    2016-09-13 – 2016-09-14
    2012 lava dome
  7. 2012VEI 2Observed
    2012-08-07 – 2013-10-11
    1978/90 Crater Complex
  8. 2001VEI 2Observed
    2001-02-19 – 2001-02-19
    MH vent
  9. 2000VEI 3Observed
    2000-03-07 – 2000-09-05
    MH vent
  10. 1998VEI 1Observed
    1998-03-28 – 1998-03-29
  11. 1998VEI 2Observed
    1998-08-22 – 1999-08-16
    NW corner of 1978/90 crater complex
  12. 1995VEI 1Observed
    1995-06-28 – 1995-06-29
    Wade Crater
  13. 1986VEI 3Observed
    1986-02-01 – 1994-07-28
    Congress and numerous other craters
  14. 1983VEI 2Observed
    1983-12-26 – 1984-02-12
    North margin of 1978 crater complex
  15. 1976VEI 3Observed
    1976-12-18 – 1982-01-29
    Christmas, Gibrus, and 1978 craters
  16. 1974VEI 2Observed
    1974-09-08 – end unknown
    SE of Donald Mound,
  17. 1971VEI 2Observed
    1971-04-09 – end unknown
    Noisy Nellie Crater
  18. 1971VEI 2Observed
    1971-07-19 – 1971-07-20
    South of Rudolf (1971 crater)
  19. 1970VEI 2Observed
    1970-06-30 – end unknown
    Rudolf vent
  20. 1969VEI 2Observed
    1969-08-16 – 1969-09-16
    Rudolf vent
  21. 1968VEI 3Observed
    1968-01-27 – 1969-02-16
    Rudolf vent (back wall of 1933 crater)
  22. 1966VEI 3Observed
    1966-11-13 – 1967-03-16
    Gilliver Crater
  23. 1962VEI 3Observed
    1962-12-15 – end unknown
    Big John Crater
  24. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-12-14 – 1959-12-20
    Noisy Nellie Crater
  25. 1958VEI 1Observed
    1958-12-16 – end unknown
    Noisy Nellie and 1933 craters
  26. 1957VEI 2Observed
    1957-12-11 – end unknown
  27. 1955VEI 2Observed
    1955-01-16 – end unknown
  28. 1947VEI 2Observed
    1947-01-16 – end unknown
    Noisy Nellie Crater
  29. 1933VEI 3Observed
    1933-04-02 – end unknown
    Foot of crater ridge (1933 crater)
  30. 1930VEI 2Observed
    1930-03-16 – end unknown
  31. 1928VEI 1Observed
    1928-09-01 – 1928-09-03
    Between Big Donald and Lot's Wife
  32. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-02-03 – end unknown
    Little Donald vent
  33. 1924VEI 2Observed
    1924-07-02 – end unknown
    North end of crater (Schuberts Fairy?)
  34. 1922VEI 2Observed
    1922-07-02 – end unknown
    NW end of crater (Lot's Wife vent)
  35. 1909VEI 2Observed
    1909-05-13 – end unknown
  36. 1908VEI 2Method not stated
    1908-11-28 – 1908-12-06
  37. 1886VEI 2Method not stated
    1886-06-10 – 1886-06-15
  38. 1886VEI 2Observed
    1886-09-16 – 1886-12-16
  39. 1885VEI 2Method not stated
    1885-01-16 – end unknown
  40. 1885VEI 2Observed
    1885-10-16 – end unknown
    West end of crater
  41. 1856 (±8 yrs)VEI 2Method not stated
    1856-07-02 – end unknown
  42. 1836 (±2 yrs)VEI 2Observed
    1836-07-02 – end unknown
  43. 1826VEI 2Observed
    1826-12-01 – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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