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Fiji Volcanoes

  • Volcano photo slideshow

    Taveuni

  • Volcano photo slideshow

    Taveuni

  • Volcano photo slideshow

    Taveuni

  • Current

Fiji has 2 Holocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Bolded volcanoes have erupted within the past 20 years. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().

Volcano Name Last Eruption Volcanic Province Primary Landform
Nabukelevu 1660 CE Fiji Volcanic Arc Minor (Silicic)
Taveuni 1550 CE Fiji Volcanic Arc Shield

Chronological listing of known Holocene eruptions (confirmed or uncertain) from volcanoes in Fiji. Bolded eruptions indicate continuing activity.

Volcano Name Start Date Stop Date Certainty VEI Evidence
Nabukelevu 1660 ± 30 years Unknown Confirmed   Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 1550 ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 1420 ± 20 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 1350 ± 75 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1160 ± 150 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 1020 (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0880 (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0770 (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0640 ± 40 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0520 ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0480 ± 75 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0400 ± 50 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0350 (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Nabukelevu 0340 (?) Unknown Confirmed   Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0320 ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0270 (?) Unknown Confirmed 1 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0220 ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0090 BCE ± 200 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0200 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0330 BCE ± 75 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0400 BCE ± 20 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Nabukelevu 0580 BCE ± 300 years Unknown Confirmed   Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 0600 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 0680 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1020 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1100 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1200 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1300 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1450 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 1700 BCE (?) Unknown Confirmed 2 Correlation: Tephrochronology
Taveuni 3200 BCE ± 150 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 3580 BCE ± 200 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 4800 BCE ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 5230 BCE ± 100 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 5920 BCE ± 75 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 6560 BCE ± 75 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
Taveuni 8040 BCE ± 50 years Unknown Confirmed 2 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

Fiji has 6 Pleistocene volcanoes. Note that as a scientific organization we provide these listings for informational purposes only, with no international legal or policy implications. Volcanoes will be included on this list if they are within the boundaries of a country, on a shared boundary or area, in a remote territory, or within a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Suggestions and data updates are always welcome ().

Volcano Name Volcanic Province Primary Volcano Type
Kabara Lau Ridge Volcanic Arc Composite
Katafaga Lau Ridge Volcanic Arc Composite
Koro Fiji Volcanic Arc Composite
Mago Lau Ridge Volcanic Arc Minor
Nairai Fiji Volcanic Arc Composite
Waikama Fiji Volcanic Arc Composite

There are 5 photos available for volcanoes in Fiji.

The 16 x 9 km Koro Island is located between Fiji's two major island groups. A chain of scoria cones of late-Pleistocene or possibly Holocene age extends along the crest of the island from the NE tip (upper right) to the southern tip. The youngest lava flows are mostly confined to the plateau in the center of the island.

NASA Space Shuttle image STS111-719-74, 2002 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
The Nabukelevu lava-dome complex formed at the SW end of Kadavu Island at the S end of the Fiji archipelago, and is shown in this May 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 10 km across). The complex has produced several debris avalanche deposits through flank collapse and block-and-ash flow deposits from dome collapse.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
Taveuni Island in Fiji is situated along a larger ridge and is approximately 40 km long, shown in this composite image of Sentinel-2 (3 and 6 July) and Landsat 8 (1 July) 2019 images courtesy of Planet Labs (N is at the top). Around 150 vents are aligned along the length of the NW-SE oriented island. The Lake Tagimoucea Basin rift zone is about one-third of the way down and contains lavas offset by faulting.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
The 17-km-long Koro Island in Fiji is located between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu Islands, and is shown in this May 2018 Planet Labs satellite image mosaic (N is at the top). Late Pleistocene or possibly Holocene age scoria cones formed along the crest of the island, and younger lava flows are in the central plateau.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2018 (https://www.planet.com/).
The summit of Nabukelevu lies between the two clouds near the center of this NASA International Space Station image and is located at the SW end of Kadavu Island at the southern end of the Fiji archipelago. Debris avalanches from collapse of the Mt. Washington lava dome complex reached both the northern coast to the right of Cape Washington (the small peninsula at the upper left) and horseshoe-shaped Daviqele Bay (bottom center) and the south. Block-and-ash flows from dome growth and collapse have occurred within the past few hundred years.

NASA International Space Station image ISS006-E-7466, 2002 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

This is a compilation of Fiji volcano information sources, such as official monitoring or other government agencies.