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Papua New Guinea · Stratovolcano

Ulawun

Type
Stratovolcano
Elevation
2334m
Last eruption
2025
Ulawun
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Papua New Guinea
Region
Southwestern Pacific / Bismarck Volcanic Arc
Elevation
2334m
Coordinates
-5.050, 151.330
Last eruption
2025
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt
Geological summary

The symmetrical basaltic-to-andesitic Ulawun stratovolcano is the highest volcano of the Bismarck arc, and one of Papua New Guinea's most frequently active. The volcano, also known as the Father, rises above the N coast of the island of New Britain across a low saddle NE of Bamus volcano, the South Son. The upper 1,000 m is unvegetated. A prominent E-W escarpment on the south may be the result of large-scale slumping. Satellitic cones occupy the NW and E flanks. A steep-walled valley cuts the NW side, and a flank lava-flow complex lies to the south of this valley. Historical eruptions date back to the beginning of the 18th century. Twentieth-century eruptions were mildly explosive until 1967, but after 1970 several larger eruptions produced lava flows and basaltic pyroclastic flows, greatly modifying the summit crater.

Eruption history

50 recordedGlossary
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
1700~1733 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21863~1895 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21895~1928 · 5 eruptions · max VEI 31928~1960 · 4 eruptions · max VEI 21960~1993 · 12 eruptions · max VEI 31993~2025 · 27 eruptions · max VEI 417001765186319281993

Detailed timeline

  1. 2025VEI 2Observed
    2025-03-27 – 2025-04-07
  2. 2023VEI 1Observed
    2023-03-28 – 2023-03-28
  3. 2023VEI 3Observed
    2023-07-18 – 2023-12-31
  4. 2022VEI 2Observed
    2022-06-02 – 2022-06-02
  5. 2021VEI 2Observed
    2021-07-09 – 2021-11-29
  6. 2019VEI 4Observed
    2019-06-26 – 2019-10-05
  7. 2018VEI 1Observed
    2018-06-08 – 2018-06-08
    Summit crater
  8. 2018VEI 2Observed
    2018-09-21 – 2018-10-12
    Summit crater
  9. 2017VEI 1Observed
    2017-06-11 – 2017-11-03
    Summit crater
  10. 2016VEI 1Observed
    2016-10-11 – 2016-11-18
    Summit crater
  11. 2013VEI 1Observed
    2013-07-08 – 2013-12-21
    Summit crater
  12. 2012VEI 1Observed
    2012-05-07 – 2012-05-31
    Summit crater
  13. 2012VEI 1Observed
    2012-11-06 – 2012-12-11
    Summit crater
  14. 2010VEI 2Observed
    2010-05-26 – 2011-05-27
    Summit crater
  15. 2007VEI 2Observed
    2007-05-01 – 2007-05-01
  16. 2007VEI 1Method not stated
    2007-12-25 – end unknown
  17. 2006VEI 2Observed
    2006-03-01 – 2007-01-18
  18. 2005VEI 2Observed
    2005-03-27 – 2005-08-09
  19. 2004VEI 2Observed
    2004-04-12 – 2004-04-14
  20. 2003VEI 2Observed
    2003-04-14 – 2003-10-10
  21. 2002VEI 2Observed
    2002-08-22 – 2002-11-03
  22. 2001VEI 3Observed
    2001-01-16 – 2001-05-03
    Summit and NNE flank
  23. 2001VEI 2Observed
    2001-08-28 – 2001-08-28
  24. 2000VEI 4Observed
    2000-09-28 – 2000-11-01
  25. 1999VEI 1Observed
    1999-10-20 – 1999-10-20
  26. 1994VEI 1Observed
    1994-04-19 – 1994-06-16
  27. 1993VEI 2Observed
    1993-01-12 – 1993-01-31
  28. 1989VEI 2Observed
    1989-01-01 – 1989-12-16
  29. 1985VEI 3Observed
    1985-11-17 – 1985-11-22
  30. 1984VEI 1Observed
    1984-08-23 – 1984-09-11
  31. 1984VEI 1Observed
    1984-12-30 – 1985-01-27
  32. 1983VEI 1Observed
    1983-11-06 – 1984-03-13
  33. 1980VEI 3Observed
    1980-10-06 – 1980-10-07
  34. 1978VEI 3Observed
    1978-05-07 – 1978-05-14
    Summit, lower east flank
  35. 1973VEI 2Observed
    1973-10-04 – 1973-10-19
  36. 1970VEI 3Observed
    1970-01-15 – 1970-02-11
  37. 1967VEI 2Observed
    1967-01-22 – 1967-12-28
  38. 1963VEI 2Observed
    1963-03-17 – 1963-05-02
  39. 1960VEI 2Observed
    1960-07-29 – 1962-11-16
  40. 1958VEI 2Observed
    1958-02-01 – end unknown
  41. 1951VEI ?Method not stated
    1951-07-02 – end unknown
  42. 1941VEI 2Observed
    1941-01-26 – 1941-01-26
  43. 1937VEI ?Method not stated
    1937-05-16 – end unknown
  44. 1927VEI 2Observed
    1927-07-16 – 1927-09-17
  45. 1919VEI 2Observed
    1919-05-28 – end unknown
  46. 1918VEI 2Observed
    1918-07-21 – end unknown
  47. 1915VEI 3Observed
    1915-04-16 – end unknown
  48. 1898VEI 3Observed
    1898-07-02 – end unknown
  49. 1878VEI 2Observed
    1878-07-02 – end unknown
  50. 1700VEI 2Observed
    1700-03-11 – end unknown

Nearby volcanoes

External links

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