If you were under the impression that volcanoes only erupt occasionally, it’s time to learn about Mount Yasur. Located on the small island of Vanuatu, Mount Yasur is considered one of the world’s most accessible volcanoes. Continuously erupting for almost 800 years, Mount Yasur is also one of the world’s most active volcanic sites.
The Location
Mount Yasur, located on Tanna Island, Vanuatu, was first discovered by Captain James Cook in 1744. Known as the “Lighthouse of the Pacific,” the nickname stems from how the volcano guided sailors for centuries while navigating the island. Today, the most popular territory claim around the volcano comes from the village of Sulfur Bay.
Geological Facts
Situated around 1,184 feet above sea level, Mount Yasur is considered a stratovolcano. The volcano’s origins are believed to result from the eastward-moving Indo-Australian plate being “subducted” under the westward-moving Pacific Plate.
Continuous Eruptions
Mount Yasur is notable because various eruption levels occur every hour and have been doing so for nearly 800 years. Because of the centuries of eruptions, an easily observable crater has long been identified, which makes it easy to get a direct look at every eruption.
Types of Eruptions
While it’s easy to think that every eruption is the same, this is untrue. In the case of Mount Yasur, most of its hourly eruptions are Strombolian in nature. As a result, you have plenty of incandescent lava, ash, and even some volcanic bombs that can jump out of the crater occasionally. Studies have also shown Mount Yasur’s lava is more fluid than other volcanic lava, which makes it less dangerous overall.
Cultural Significance
While the village of Sulfur Bay claims Mount Yasur as its own, it isn’t the only one to do so. The Yakel tribe, another local group living near the volcano, claims the site is sacred and is part of many of its rituals and legends. Visitors to the site will be exposed to many of these legends and learn about the local customs of the volcano’s history.
Very Accessible
What makes Mount Yasur so notable is just how accessible it is to visitors. This is a destination for tourism, but one that can be easily achieved through tours thanks to nearby resorts. Rest assured, there are safety measures to keep visitors safe, but there is almost always something to see whether you go during the day or at night.
Mount Etna
Like Mount Yasur, Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, is another active stratovolcano continuously erupting. One of the tallest volcanoes in Europe, Mount Etna is in a near-constant state of activity and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mount Kilauea
One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Kilauea, located on the main Hawaiian Island, stands about 4,091 feet tall. Like Mount Yasur, it is constantly active and has been erupting since 1983. Similar to Mount Yasur, Mount Kilauea also offers plenty of safe viewing opportunities with guided tours.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ben Jeayes/Shutterstock.com.
