Mount Yasur is an active stratovolcano on
Tanna Island, Vanuatu with a height of 361
m above sea level, located on the coast
near Sulphur Bay. It lies to the southeast of
the taller Mount Tukosmera, which was
active in the Pleistocene. It has a largely
unvegetated pyroclastic cone with a nearly
circular summit crater 400 m in diameter. It is a stratovolcano, caused by the eastward-moving Indo-
Australian Plate being subducted under the westward-moving Pacific Plate. It has been erupting nearly
continuously for over 800 years, although it can usually be approached safely. Its eruptions, which often
occur several times an hour, are classified as Strombolian or Vulcanian, Yasur has been called the
"Lighthouse of the Pacific" because of the regular eruptions visible from sea. The glow of the volcano was
apparently what attracted Captain James Cook on the first European journey to the island in 1774. Today the
mountain is a sacred area for the John Frum cargo cult. Members of the cult revere John Frum, a deified
messenger who foretold the bringing of wealth to the island by American forces, and believe he resides in
Mount Yasur with his countrymen. The village of Sulphur Bay, the center of the movement, claims the
volcano as part of their territory.
( Wikipedia)
Yasur
Location: 9.52 S, 169,42 E
Elevation: 361 m
Vanuatu, Oct. 2006
HOME
Video: Rainer Urbanke
click on photos to enlarge
Vanuatu, Oct. 2006
Tanna Island, Vanuatu with a height of 361
m above sea level, located on the coast
near Sulphur Bay. It lies to the southeast of
the taller Mount Tukosmera, which was
active in the Pleistocene. It has a largely
unvegetated pyroclastic cone with a nearly
circular summit crater 400 m in diameter. It is a stratovolcano, caused by the eastward-moving Indo-
Australian Plate being subducted under the westward-moving Pacific Plate. It has been erupting nearly
continuously for over 800 years, although it can usually be approached safely. Its eruptions, which often
occur several times an hour, are classified as Strombolian or Vulcanian, Yasur has been called the
"Lighthouse of the Pacific" because of the regular eruptions visible from sea. The glow of the volcano was
apparently what attracted Captain James Cook on the first European journey to the island in 1774. Today the
mountain is a sacred area for the John Frum cargo cult. Members of the cult revere John Frum, a deified
messenger who foretold the bringing of wealth to the island by American forces, and believe he resides in
Mount Yasur with his countrymen. The village of Sulphur Bay, the center of the movement, claims the
volcano as part of their territory.
( Wikipedia)
Yasur
Location: 9.52 S, 169,42 E
Elevation: 361 m
Vanuatu, Oct. 2006
HOME
Video: Rainer Urbanke
click on photos to enlarge
Vanuatu, Oct. 2006