About Wright
Wright is a stratovolcano(es) rising to -900 meters (-2,953 feet) in New Zealand's Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Wright is located in New Zealand, within the Middle Kermadec Volcanic Arc of the broader Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. Situated at 31.85° S, 179.18° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subtropical climate zone. With an elevation of -900 meters — below sea level — Wright 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
Wright 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 Wright, 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 basalt / picro-basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
Two volcanic cones, initially known informally as Volcano W and later named Wright, were discovered during a New Zealand-American submarine vent mapping expedition to the Kermadec arc in 2004. The deep-water basaltic volcanoes, 156 km SW of Curtis Island, both have summits cut by small calderas. Evidence of diffuse hydrothermal venting was observed in 2005 from the SE edifice, which rises to within about 900 m of the ocean surface and contains a cone in its summit caldera. The caldera walls expose pillow lavas, pillow tubes, localized sheet flows, and pillow breccias, with higher proportions of volcaniclastic breccias in the upper portion.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Wright.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Wright
Is Wright an active volcano?+
Wright is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Unrest / Holocene." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Wright?+
Wright has a summit elevation of -900 meters (-2,953 feet) above sea level. With an elevation of -900 meters (below sea level), this is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature.
What type of volcano is Wright?+
Wright is classified as a Stratovolcano(es). Stratovolcano(es) volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Wright located?+
Wright is located in New Zealand, in the Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Middle Kermadec Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -31.850° latitude, -179.180° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Wright?+
Wright 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.
