For the adventurous soul, the Pacific Ring of Fire, otherwise known as the Islands of Vanuatu, should be on the “must-explore” list. The volcanoes on the islands are constantly active and constantly threatening to erupt, but to many curious visitors, exploring the volcanoes brings a unity with nature. Mother Nature can be tumultuous, after-all. To be able to get close to her beautiful power is quite exciting for the adventuring spirit.
First, the most popular of the volcanoes is Mount Yasur, located on the Tanna Island. Although the Yasur volcano has been erupting nearly continuously for centuries, it is considered safe for visitors to explore. Mount Yasur is located on the coast near Sulphur Bay, and visitors can literally stand at the very edge of the crater and peer down into the depths of the monstrous volcano. Often, the volcano throws small and large blocks of red lava high into the air. This active volcano is truly worth viewing.
The Ambrym Volcano is located at the center of the Vanuatu nation. This volcano is a short hike from the coast, and visitors will appreciate the fact that this strong volcano is so powerful that when it erupts, the magma is blown into ash fragments. Those visitors brave enough to explore the volcano will surely appreciate the force of nature.
Not all of the volcano sites are inhabited. Lopevi volcano sits on an island that was once inhabited; however, the active volcano site was abandoned after an eruption in 1982 forced islanders to seek refuge on neighboring lands. In the past 150 years, this powerful volcano has erupted 20 times.
Another volcano that can only be visited from afar is the Kuwai volcano. This submerged island was at one time the largest of the islands in the Vanuatu nation. However, sometime between 1420 and 1430 AD, a significant volcanic eruption blew the majority of the mountain into the atmosphere. For deep-sea divers, this site has become a popular attraction. Divers can explore the island from under the sea; thus, they gain an interesting perspective of this once-active volcanic site.
Currently, the largest volcano, Manaro, is located on the island of Ambae. Manaro makes up the center of Ambae, and this volcano is also considered the most dangerous of the volcanoes, as it has been threatening to erupt for the past 15 years. An eruption would prove to be catastrophic for the 10,000 inhabitants of the island. The many crater lakes could become explosive, superheated steam, which would cause landslides resulting in dangerous tsunamis.
Finally, the Gaua Island has 8 distinct volcanic peaks. The biggest peak is Mt. Garat, which is surrounded on three sides by Lake Letas. The peaks found on Gaua Island are normally safe for visitors to tour and explore; however, these peaks have been known to emit poisonous gasses from time-to-time. Visitors are encouraged to steer clear of these peaks during those dangerous periods.
For the nature-lover and avid adventure-seeker, the volcanoes located on the Vanuatu Islands are truly extraordinary. Many of the volcanoes are active. However, because a major eruption hasn’t occurred in nearly 100 years, these volcanoes are considered safe for visitors to tour. Of course, it is always advisable to seek the help of a trained guide when establishing tour plans. For those people longing to feel close to nature’s beauty, strength and power, traveling to the incredible range of volcanoes located in Vanuatu is strongly encouraged.
