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Gaua Volcano - John Seach
Gaua Island, Torba Province, Vanuatu
14.27 S, 167.50 E,
summit elevation 979 m
Shield Volcano
Gaua is a large shield volcano with gentle outer slopes, a large caldera lake (Lake Letas), and summit cinder cone (Mt Garet). The caldera is 8 x 6 km in diameter. Lake Letas occupies half the caldera with an area of 19.7 sq km. It is about 100 m deep and flat bottomed. There is warm, sulphur stained water near Mt Garet cone.
The volcano erupted in 1962 after a long period of dormancy. Eruptions were explosive from the central crater with ash emissions. In 1973 eruptions caused the evacuation of residents. Gaua Island lies just north of the Santa Maria Fracture Zone, which runs perpendicular to the north New Hebrides Trench.
Mt Garet and Lake Letas
Gaua Volcano Tours. Contact John Seach for more information.
Gaua Volcano Eruptions
1982, 1981, 1980, 1977, 1976, 1973-74, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1963, 1962