About Wallis Islands
Wallis Islands is a shield(s) rising to 146 meters (479 feet) in France's Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Wallis Islands is located in France, within the Vitiaz Lineament Volcanic Province of the broader Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.28° S, 176.21° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At just 146 meters above sea level, Wallis Islands is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. The volcanic landform is characterized as a shield, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The Wallis Islands consist of one relatively large island, 7 x 14 km Uvea Island, and 22 smaller islands and islets that are surrounded by a barrier reef. The low forested islands, formed of flat-lying basaltic lava flows cut by explosion craters, are capped by tuff cones and cinder cones. Numerous small shields (lava cones) and tuff cones were considered by Stearns (1945) on morphological grounds to be of Pleistocene to "Recent" age. Although Price et al. (1991) noted that rocks of Pleistocene or Holocene age were present, K-Ar ages of dated samples range from 500,000 to 80,000 years old. The origins and tectonic setting of this volcanic feature are uncertain, but researchers agree that this was not a product the Samoan hotspot.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Wallis Islands.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Wallis Islands
Is Wallis Islands an active volcano?+
Wallis Islands is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Wallis Islands?+
Wallis Islands has a summit elevation of 146 meters (479 feet) above sea level. At 146 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Wallis Islands?+
Wallis Islands is classified as a Shield(s). Shield volcanoes are broad, gently sloping volcanoes built by fluid lava flows. They produce less explosive eruptions compared to stratovolcanoes and tend to have effusive lava rather than violent blasts.
Where is Wallis Islands located?+
Wallis Islands is located in France, in the Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Vitiaz Lineament Volcanic Province. Its exact coordinates are -13.275° latitude, -176.206° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Wallis Islands?+
Wallis Islands can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. France may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.