About Hankow Reef
Hankow Reef is a stratovolcano rising to -5 meters (-16 feet) in Papua New Guinea's Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Hankow Reef is located in Papua New Guinea, within the Bismarck Volcanic Arc of the broader Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 4.88° S, 146.72° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With an elevation of -5 meters — below sea level — Hankow Reef 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
Hankow Reef 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 Papua New Guinea near Hankow Reef, 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 no data (checked), which influences the viscosity of the magma and, consequently, the style of eruptions this volcano produces. Rock chemistry is one of the most important factors in determining whether a volcano erupts explosively or effusively.
GVP Reference Summary
Oral tradition suggests the possible existence of a now-submerged volcano off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Accounts from many villages along the Madang coast report that residents fled from Yomba Island 8-10 generations ago, when the island was destroyed by an eruption accompanied by a tsunami. The location of the former island is uncertain, but most informants placed it in the vicinity of the present-day Hankow Reef (Mennis, 1981), between Bagabag and Crown Islands, NW of Long Island. Binns et al. (2002) surveyed the area, locating two distinct seamounts as well as a caldera SW of the reef; they found no evidence for the existence of the legendary Yomba volcano.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Hankow Reef.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Hankow Reef
Is Hankow Reef an active volcano?+
Hankow Reef is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Evidence Uncertain." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Hankow Reef?+
Hankow Reef has a summit elevation of -5 meters (-16 feet) above sea level. With an elevation of -5 meters (below sea level), this is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature.
What type of volcano is Hankow Reef?+
Hankow Reef 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 Hankow Reef located?+
Hankow Reef is located in Papua New Guinea, in the Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Bismarck Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -4.883° latitude, 146.717° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Hankow Reef?+
Hankow Reef can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Papua New Guinea may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
