About Mere Lava
Mere Lava is a stratovolcano rising to 1,003 meters (3,291 feet) in Vanuatu'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
Mere Lava is located in Vanuatu, within the Vanuatu Volcanic Arc of the broader Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.46° S, 168.04° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,003 meters above sea level, Mere Lava is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
The small 5-km-diameter island of Mere Lava (also known as Star Peak) in the southern Banks Islands has a well-preserved summit crater containing a small cinder cone. Eruptive products are olivine basalt lavas and related tephra, and nine small craters are aligned down and across the NE flank above a small coastal plain extending into the ocean (Mallick and Ash, 1975). Although Mallick and Ash (1975) considered the volcano to be "very young", they noted that there were no records or legends of activity. Although some writers claim that the Spanish explorer Queiros reported the volcano to be "smoking" in 1606, a reading of the Markham (1904) translation seems to describe human, not volcanic, activity.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Mere Lava.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Mere Lava
Is Mere Lava an active volcano?+
Mere Lava 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 Mere Lava?+
Mere Lava has a summit elevation of 1,003 meters (3,291 feet) above sea level. At 1,003 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Mere Lava?+
Mere Lava 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 Mere Lava located?+
Mere Lava is located in Vanuatu, in the Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Vanuatu Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -14.459° latitude, 168.040° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Mere Lava?+
Mere Lava can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Vanuatu may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
