About Healy
Healy is a stratovolcano rising to -980 meters (-3,215 feet) in New Zealand's Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption was in 1360 CE. The volcano has produced 1 recorded eruption.
Geography & Climate
Healy is located in New Zealand, within the Southern Kermadec Volcanic Arc of the broader Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. Situated at 35.00° S, 178.97° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a temperate climate zone. With an elevation of -980 meters — below sea level — Healy is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature. Submarine volcanoes make up the majority of Earth's volcanic activity, though most eruptions go unobserved beneath the ocean surface. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Healy sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in New Zealand near Healy, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is dacite, an intermediate to silica-rich volcanic rock. This composition typically produces more viscous magma, leading to more explosive eruptions with ash columns and pyroclastic flows. Andesitic and dacitic magmas build pressure before erupting, which is why volcanoes with this rock chemistry are often associated with Plinian-style eruptions that can send ash tens of kilometers into the atmosphere and disrupt aviation across entire regions.
Eruption History Summary
Healy has 1 recorded eruption in the geological database, spanning from 1360 CE to 1360 CE.
GVP Reference Summary
Healy submarine volcano lies along the South Kermadec Ridge and consists of an elongated edifice with a 3 x 4 km wide caldera at the NE end whose rim reaches to 1,150 m below sea level. A smaller caldera lies to the SW, and a cone, Cotton volcano, rises to 980 below sea level at the SW end of the 15-km-long complex. The flat-lying floor of the larger NE caldera lies 250-400 m below the caldera rim. Rhyodacitic pumice deposits mantle the caldera floor and walls, as well as the flanks. Active hydrothermal venting has been observed on the lower part of the southern caldera wall. The roughly 590-year-old sea-rafted Loisels Pumice deposit found in many Holocene beach sequences of North Island, New Zealand, and as far away as the Chatham Islands, 650 km east of New Zealand, is chemically and texturally similar to pumices from Healy caldera.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
1 Recorded Eruption
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1360 | — | Confirmed Eruption | Healy caldera |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Healy
Is Healy an active volcano?+
Healy is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Eruption Dated." The last known eruption was in 1360 CE. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
When did Healy last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of Healy occurred in 1360 CE. The eruption was classified as a "Confirmed Eruption." Healy has 1 recorded eruption in total.
How high is Healy?+
Healy has a summit elevation of -980 meters (-3,215 feet) above sea level. With an elevation of -980 meters (below sea level), this is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature.
What type of volcano is Healy?+
Healy is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Healy located?+
Healy is located in New Zealand, in the Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Southern Kermadec Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -35.004° latitude, 178.973° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Healy?+
Healy can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. New Zealand may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.