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Ambrym Volcano - John Seach
Ambrym Island, Malampa Province, Vanuatu
16.25 S, 168.12 E
summit elevation 1334 m
Pyroclastic Shield Volcano
Ambrym Island is the Jewel of the Pacific. The island is located in central Vanuatu and contains one of the world's most active volcanoes. Lava lakes regularly appear in the summit craters. Several times per century, Ambrym volcano erupts violently.
In 1913-14 the volcano produced the largest eruption in 400 years in Melanesia.
The island is located in central Vanuatu along the main shipping lane between Port Vila and Espiritu Santo. The island is also noted for magic, sand drawing, rom dance, and tamtam carvings.
The summit of Ambrym Island contains a desert-like caldera covering 100 sq km.
This provides an impressive contrast with the thick jungle covering most of the island. The caldera appears barren but closer inspection shows specialised caldera plants and animals. Even right on the crater rims, there are many insects which thrive in the acid environment. Elsewhere on the caldera there are orchids which prefer the cooler acid environment, and usually fail to survive at sea level.
The volcano was first climbed in the late 1800's and produced destructive eruptions in 1894, 1913, 1929, and 1951. During the 1980's and 1990's activity included lava lakes in the summit craters. Ambrym volcano is unusual because it produces basaltic lava in a subduction zone.
Ambrym Volcano Eruptions
1996-2008, 1994, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1986, 1984-86, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1977, 1973-76, 1972, 1971, 1967-70, 1964-66, 1963, 1961-63, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952, 1950-51, 1942, 1938, 1937, 1935-36, 1929, 1915, 1913-14, 1912, 1910, ?1909, 1908, 1898, 1894-95, 1888, 1886, 1884, 1883, 1871, ?1870, 1863-64, 1820?, 1774, 50 AD.