Mehetia Volcano
Updated: Nov 29, 2025 23:36 GMT -
Stratovolcano
France, Society Islands, -17.87°S / -148.07°W 
Summit height: 435 m / 1,427 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
[smaller] [larger]
Mehetia volcano eruptions: unknown, no recent eruptions
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The 1.5-km-wide, steep-sided island of Mehetia, the youngest and SE-most of the Society Islands, lacks a well-developed fringing coral reef. The 435-m-high island (known as Meetia or Meketia in the Tahitian and Tuamotuan languages, respectively) is the summit of a large volcano that rises 4000 m from the sea floor. An older edifice is formed of a lava flow sequence overlain by hydromagmatic deposits and strombolian ejecta. A well-preserved Holocene crater, 150 m wide and 80 m deep, is located NW of the summit and has been the source of the youngest lava flows on the island (Binard et al., 1993). Polynesian legends mention "large fires," and the lack of vegetation on some lava flows suggests that the latest activity occurred within the last 2000 years (Talandier and Custer, 1976). Other recent activity at Tehetia originated from a submarine crater at 2500-2700 m depth on the SE flank.---
Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
Significant volcanic eruptions: Mehetia volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Mehetia has had only one confirmed historic eruption ###WHEN1###|only one confirmed historic eruption ###WHEN1### and one ###WHEN2### inferred from geological evidence|only one confirmed historic eruption ###WHEN1###, but at least ###NUM_INFERRED### eruptions can be inferred from geological evidence|at least ###NUM_CONFIRMED### confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations|at least ###NUM_CONFIRMED### confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which ###NUM_HISTORIC### are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
No historic eruptions are known from Mehetia volcano, but at least one eruption ###WHEN2### can be inferred from geological evidence|evidence from at least ###NUM_CONFIRMED### eruptions during the past 10,000 years can be found in the geological record.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1981 from Mehetia volcano.
No historic eruptions are known from Mehetia volcano, but at least one eruption ###WHEN2### can be inferred from geological evidence|evidence from at least ###NUM_CONFIRMED### eruptions during the past 10,000 years can be found in the geological record.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1981 from Mehetia volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Mehetia volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Mehetia can be found on the news page of Mehetia volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Latest satellite images
Mehetia Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Mehetia volcano (scale of few kilometers)
