Tofua Volcan

Updated: 10 mai 2025 00:05 GMT - refresh

caldera

Tonga Islands, -19.75°S / -175.07°W

+Heure locale:

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Summit height: 515 m / 1,690 ft

Condition actuelle: Activité petite ou avertissement éruption imminente (3 sur 5)

Last update: 29 mai 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Aerial photo of Tofua (Tonga Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Natural Resources, 1990, published in Taylor and Ewart, 1997)

Tofua volcano is the subaerial part of a large frequently active stratovolcano. It forms the 8 km wide circular Tofua Island, dominated by the 5 km wide caldera containing a freshwater lake at only 30 m above sea level and surrounded by steep 300 m cliffs.
The island is know for Captain Bligh who was stranded there during the famous Bounty Mutiny 1789. The first historical eruption of Tofua was observed by Captain Cook in 1774.

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Tofua webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Style éruptif tipique: explosive
Eruptions du volcan Tofua: 2006-09, 2004, 1958, 1906, 1889, 1885, 1854, 1792, 1774

Derniers séismes proches

Date et l'heure	Mag / Prof.	Distance / Lieux

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Introduction

The easternmost cone has three craters and produced young basaltic-andesite lava flows, some of which traveled into the caldera lake. The largest and northernmost of the cones, Lofia, has a steep-sided crater that is 70 m wide and 120 m deep and has been the source of historical eruptions, first reported in the 18th century. The fumarolically active crater of Lofia has a flat floor formed by a ponded lava flow. (Smithsonian / GVP volcano information)

Éruptions volcaniques importantes: volcano Tofua

In the past 10,000 years, Tofua has had at least 11 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1993 from Tofua volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Tofua volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Tofua can be found on the news page of Tofua volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Dommages
2015 Oct 2 - en cours	Lofia crater Obs./docs historiques	0	inconnu
2004 Mar 19 - 2014 Oct 18	Lofia crater Obs./docs historiques	1?	inconnu
?? 1993 Avr 29	Éruption incertaine	0	inconnu
1958 Déc 31 ±120 d. - 1960 ?	Northern part of caldera Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu
1906 Déc	Northern part of caldera Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu
1906 Jan - Fév	Northern part of caldera Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu
1892 Août 30 (éruption 1885 Oct)	Tsunami enregistré Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu	Infos
1892 Août 30: Since that night the natives report that Tofoa is once more active. (reference #11612) Cited references #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. #11612 Evening News (Sydney, NSW) (1892): News from Tonga. Evening News (Sydney, NSW), 1892 September 29, 2f. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112597006. (accessed 25 October 2016). #11621 The Argus (1885): "A NEW ISLAND IN THE SOUTH SEAS." The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 10 December 1885: 8. Web. 3 Nov 2016 . Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1885 Oct	Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu
1854	Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu
1847 Jul 10 ou avant	Obs./docs historiques	1	inconnu
1845 Jul 1 ±60 d.	Obs./docs historiques	0	inconnu
1792	Obs./docs historiques	0	inconnu
1774 Jun	Obs./docs historiques	2	inconnu

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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

Tofua Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Tofua volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Tofua began in 2015 and is continuing (as of May 2025).

+How often does Tofua volcano erupt?

Since 1774, Tofua volcano has had at least 11 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 22.8 years.
Many eruptions of Tofua have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 32 out of 251 years until now. In other words, Tofua has been active at least one in 7.8 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Tofua is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Tofua volcano at present?

Tofua volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 26 eruptions, and been active during 26 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Tofua has been in eruption one in 4.8 years on average. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Tofua volcano?

The largest eruption of Tofua volcano in historic times occurred during 1958 - 1960. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Dernières images satellite

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Derniers images satellite

Tofua Volcan Cartes

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).