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Garua Harbour

Volcanic field in Papua New Guinea

Key Facts

Elevation

565 m (1,854 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

-5.300°, 150.070°

Region

Bismarck Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Garua (Talasea) Harbour volcanic field consists of a group of lava domes and ash cones of possible Holocene age. These volcanic vents ring the harbor on the west and form Garua Island to the east. Much of the volcanic field, including the two lava domes on Garua Island, consists of rhyolitic rocks.

Active hot springs ring the shores of Garua Harbour and are best developed on the north and south sides. Large boiling pools, fumaroles, and small geysers are found on the north shore near Pangalu village. Another large group of boiling pools, fumaroles, and mudpots is located near the Talasea Government Station on the south shore of the bay.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Rhyolite
    Silica Content
    High (>68% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Evidence Uncertain

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 252060
    • Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Garua (Talasea) Harbour volcanic field (upper right center) consists of a group of mostly rhyolitic lava domes and ash cones that ring the harbor on the west and form Garua Island (right center) to the east. Active hot springs ring the shores of Garua Harbour, including a large group of boiling pools, fumaroles, and mudpots located near the Talasea Government Station on the south shore of the bay, directly opposite the western tip of Garua Island.

    NASA Landsat image, 2000 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.