Yasur
Stratovolcano in Vanuatu
Key Facts
Elevation
361 m (1,184 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-19.532°, 169.447°
Region
Vanuatu Volcanic Arc
Total Eruptions
3
Max VEI
VEI 3
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Eruption Timeline
Most recent confirmed eruption
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Overview
Yasur has exhibited essentially continuous Strombolian and Vulcanian activity at least since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774. This style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. Located at the SE tip of Tanna Island in Vanuatu, this pyroclastic cone has a nearly circular, 400-m-wide summit crater.
The active cone is largely contained within the small Yenkahe caldera, and is the youngest of a group of Holocene volcanic centers constructed over the down-dropped NE flank of the Pleistocene Tukosmeru volcano. The Yenkahe horst is located within the Siwi ring fracture, a 4-km-wide open feature associated with eruption of the andesitic Siwi pyroclastic sequence. Active tectonism along the Yenkahe horst accompanying eruptions has raised Port Resolution harbor more than 20 m during the past century.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | 3 | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI 3 | Moderate | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 1 years ago | Very Recent | Currently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 257100
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
A plume rises above the summit crater of Yasur, seen here from the west across Lake Siwi in 1988. Yasur has produced near-continuous Strombolian activity since at least 1774 and this style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. The mostly-unvegetated cone is has a 400-m-wide summit crater.
Photo by Ian Nairn, 1988 (New Zeland Geological Survey).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.