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Falcon Island Volcano | John Seach
(Fonuafo'ou)
Tonga
20.32 S, 175.42 W
summit elevation -17 m
submarine volcano
Falcon volcano "New Land" is located in central Tonga.
The volcano occasionally forms a temporary island during eruptions. It alternates between shoal and island, and is easily eroded due to a lack of lava flows during eruptions. The volcano has produced the most spectacular eruptions in Tonga.
1970 Eruption
A submarine eruption was observed on 3rd January 1970. Discoloured water covered 500 acre area.
1885-86 Eruption
Falcon island volcano began erupting on 11th October 1885. The sky was clear and an earthquake was followed by lightning. a low rumbling noise was heard during the night. An island had formed by 14th October. Residents chartered a boat and approached the volcano on 18th October.
"...witnessed a spectacle of such surpassing magnificence as men have seldom been permitted to view. An island of, I believe, not less than nine miles, superficial area was seen by us... on its shore a submarine volcano was belching out a fearful quantity of what I believe to be steam and salt water." Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 155, 30 December 1885.
Further reading
Bryan, W.B., Stice, G.D. and Ewart, A., 1972. Geology, petrography, and geochemistry of the volcanic islands of Tonga. Journal of geophysical research, 77(8), pp.1566-1585.
Lister, J.J., 1890, March. A Visit to the Newly Emerged Falcon Island, Tonga Group, South Pacific. In Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography (Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 157-160). Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), Wiley.
Falcon Island Volcano Eruptions
1970, 1936, 1933, 1928, 1927, 1921, 1894, 1885-86, 1877, 1865?, 1781?