Fonualei

Fonualei
Highest point
Elevation 180 m (590 ft)[1]
Listing List of volcanoes in Tonga
Coordinates 18°01′26″S 174°19′30″W / 18.024°S 174.325°W / -18.024; -174.325
Geography
Location Tonga Islands
Geology
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption June 1957

Fonualei is an uninhabited 5 km2 volcanic island close to Vavaʻu in the kingdom of Tonga. It was seen by Don Francisco Mourelle de la Rua on the La Princesa on 26 February 1781.[2] He reported the island to be barren from eruptions, and called it for that reason Amargura (Bitterness in Spanish).

A major eruption in 1846, starting 11 June, destroyed much of the vegetation of Vavaʻu and spread ash around for at least a year. Some sources claim that three other neighbouring volcanoes, Late, Tokū and another, erupted at the same time. This is probably a mistake by passing ships who misidentified the erupting island.

The closest island to Fonualei is Tokū 19.7 km to the southeast.

See also

References

  1. "Fonualei". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  2. Sharp, Andrew, The discovery of the Pacific Islands Oxford 1960, p.149
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