Fonualei | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 188 m (617 ft) [1] |
Listing | List of volcanoes in Tonga |
Coordinates | 18°01′26″S 174°19′30″W / 18.024°S 174.325°W |
Geography | |
Location | Tonga Islands |
Geology | |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | June 1957 |
Fonualei is an uninhabited volcanic island in the kingdom of Tonga. It 70 km northwest of Vavaʻu and is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji, and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate. [2] The closest island to Fonualei is Tokū 19.7 km to the southeast.
The island is the peak of an active volcano which rises 1000m from the seafloor. [3] It has a diameter of 2 km and a maximum height of 188m. [1] The coast is surrounded by cliffs, with only two beaches suitable for a landing. [3] The western, southern, and north-eastern sides have narrow fringing reefs. [3]
In the 1830s the inhabitants of Tokū used Fonualei for their gardens. [4]: 4
The first European to sight the island was Don Francisco Mourelle de la Rua on the La Princesa on 26 February 1781. [5] He reported the island to be barren from eruptions, and called it for that reason Amargura (Bitterness in Spanish). [6] It was subsequently seen by La Pérouse on 27 December 1787, and by HMS Pandora during its hunt for the Bounty mutineers, who named it "Gardner’s Island". [4]: 4
A major eruption in 1846, starting 11 June, destroyed much of the vegetation of Vavaʻu and spread ash around for at least a year. Some sources claim that three other neighbouring volcanoes, Late, Tokū and another, erupted at the same time. This is probably a mistake by passing ships who misidentified the erupting island. Another eruption was reported in July 1938. [7]
In the 1980s the island was leased for 30 years to the Chen family as part of a scheme to sell Tongan passports to wealthy foreigners. [8] [9]
In September 2022 scientists mapping marine life noted discolouration in the water near the island and emissions of sulphuric gases. [10]
The island has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. [11] It is home to a large colony of Sooty terns. [11] Other birds found on the island include the Tongan ground dove, Pacific imperial pigeon, Spotless crake, Australasian swamphen, Polynesian wattled honeyeater, and Polynesian starling. [12]: 9 Sea- and shorebirds include the brown and red-footed Booby, the great and Lesser frigatebird, White tern, Red-tailed tropicbird, the black and brown Noddy, Pacific golden plover, and Bristle-thighed curlew. [12]: 9 The only land-based mammal is the Insular flying fox. [12]: 9 The island is rat-free. [12]: 12
In 1993 Fonualei was assessed as a potential habitat for the critically endangered Tongan megapode. [13] 70 eggs and 10 chicks were translocated. [14] The introduction was successful, and in 2003 the population was estimated at 300 to 500 birds. [14] In 2013 it was estimated at 600 to 1,000 adults. [12]: 13
Fonualei | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 188 m (617 ft) [1] |
Listing | List of volcanoes in Tonga |
Coordinates | 18°01′26″S 174°19′30″W / 18.024°S 174.325°W |
Geography | |
Location | Tonga Islands |
Geology | |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | June 1957 |
Fonualei is an uninhabited volcanic island in the kingdom of Tonga. It 70 km northwest of Vavaʻu and is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji, and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate. [2] The closest island to Fonualei is Tokū 19.7 km to the southeast.
The island is the peak of an active volcano which rises 1000m from the seafloor. [3] It has a diameter of 2 km and a maximum height of 188m. [1] The coast is surrounded by cliffs, with only two beaches suitable for a landing. [3] The western, southern, and north-eastern sides have narrow fringing reefs. [3]
In the 1830s the inhabitants of Tokū used Fonualei for their gardens. [4]: 4
The first European to sight the island was Don Francisco Mourelle de la Rua on the La Princesa on 26 February 1781. [5] He reported the island to be barren from eruptions, and called it for that reason Amargura (Bitterness in Spanish). [6] It was subsequently seen by La Pérouse on 27 December 1787, and by HMS Pandora during its hunt for the Bounty mutineers, who named it "Gardner’s Island". [4]: 4
A major eruption in 1846, starting 11 June, destroyed much of the vegetation of Vavaʻu and spread ash around for at least a year. Some sources claim that three other neighbouring volcanoes, Late, Tokū and another, erupted at the same time. This is probably a mistake by passing ships who misidentified the erupting island. Another eruption was reported in July 1938. [7]
In the 1980s the island was leased for 30 years to the Chen family as part of a scheme to sell Tongan passports to wealthy foreigners. [8] [9]
In September 2022 scientists mapping marine life noted discolouration in the water near the island and emissions of sulphuric gases. [10]
The island has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. [11] It is home to a large colony of Sooty terns. [11] Other birds found on the island include the Tongan ground dove, Pacific imperial pigeon, Spotless crake, Australasian swamphen, Polynesian wattled honeyeater, and Polynesian starling. [12]: 9 Sea- and shorebirds include the brown and red-footed Booby, the great and Lesser frigatebird, White tern, Red-tailed tropicbird, the black and brown Noddy, Pacific golden plover, and Bristle-thighed curlew. [12]: 9 The only land-based mammal is the Insular flying fox. [12]: 9 The island is rat-free. [12]: 12
In 1993 Fonualei was assessed as a potential habitat for the critically endangered Tongan megapode. [13] 70 eggs and 10 chicks were translocated. [14] The introduction was successful, and in 2003 the population was estimated at 300 to 500 birds. [14] In 2013 it was estimated at 600 to 1,000 adults. [12]: 13