Fonuafoʻou

Fonuafo‘ou ("New land" in Tongan[2]), formerly known as Falcon Island, is a submarine volcano in the western part of the Ha'apai group in Tonga. The volcano has created an island several times throughout history.[3]

Not to be confused with Falcon Island, off Queensland, Australia.
Fonuafo'ou
Fonuafo'ou (date unknown, probably first half of 20th century)
Highest point
Elevation17 metres (56 ft)[1]
ListingList of volcanoes in Tonga
Coordinates20.32°S 175.42°W / -20.32; -175.42
Geography
LocationTonga Islands
Geology
Mountain typeSubmarine volcano
Last eruption1936

It was first spotted by the crew of the British ship HMS Falcon in 1867, while it was still a coral reef. On 11 October 1885, the volcano erupted and spouted tons of molten lava. Three days later, on 14 October 1885, the eruption created an island, which was named Falcon island by the British.[4][5][6]

Several eruptions occurred in 1894, 1921, 1927, 1928, 1933 and 1936, consolidating the island and expanding its surface (6 km in diameter, 145 metres (476 ft) in height in 1949).

In 1949, another eruption caused the explosion and the collapse of the island, which disappeared underwater. New eruptions were recorded in 1970 and 1993. The volcano of Fonuafo'ou is currently −17 metres (−56 ft) underwater.[7]

References
  1. "Fonuafo'ou". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. David Stanley (1986). South Pacific Handbook. p. 218. ISBN 9780918373052.
  3. "Tongan Jack-in-the-Box". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XXIV, no. 1. 1 August 1953. p. 72. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Fonuafo'ou". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  5. "THE NEW VOLCANO IN THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS". New Zealand Herald. 5 December 1885. p. 1. Retrieved 22 January 2022 – via Papers Past.
  6. "A Visit to the newly emerged Falcon Island, Tonga Group, South Pacific". Ufficio del Turismo di Tonga in Italia. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  7. "Falcon Island Volcano, Tonga | John Seach". www.volcanolive.com. Retrieved 26 April 2018.

20°19′S 175°25′W

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