Ambrym

Ambrym is a volcanic island in Malampa Province in the archipelago of Vanuatu. Volcanic activity on the island includes lava lakes in two craters near the summit.

Etymology

Ambrym (aka Ambrin) was named by Captain Cook, who anchored off there in 1774.("ham rim" in the Ranon language).

Geography

Located near the center of the long Vanuatuan archipelago, Ambrym is roughly triangular in shape, about Шаблон:Convert wide. With Шаблон:Convert of surface area, it is the fifth largest island in the country.

The summit at the center of the island is dominated by a desert-like caldera, which covers an area of Шаблон:Convert.

With the exception of human settlements, the rest of the island is covered by thick jungle.

Volcanology

Ambrym is a large basaltic volcano with a 12-km-wide caldera, and one of the most active volcanoes of the New Hebrides volcanic arc.

The caldera is the result of a huge plinian explosion, which took place around 50 AD. Its explosive force is rated 6, the second highest in the Smithsonian Institution's Volcanic Explosivity Index ranks of the largest volcanic explosions in recent geological history.

While at higher elevations cinder cones predominate, the western tip of the island is characterized by a series of basaltic tuff rings, of which the largest is about Шаблон:Convert in diameter. These were produced by phreatic eruptions when magma contacted the water table and water-saturated sediments along the coast.

The massive, 1900-year-old, Шаблон:Convert × Шаблон:Convert caldera is the site of two active volcanic cones, Benbow and Marum (also spelled Maroum).

Mount Benbow was named by Captain Cook after English Admiral John Benbow (1653–1702), whom Cook admired.

Several times a century, Ambrym volcano has destructive eruptions. Mount Benbow last erupted in 1913, causing the evacuation of the population to Mele, near Port Vila on Efate.

Demographics

With the neighbour island of Malakula and a few smaller islands, Ambrym forms Malampa Province. The population of 7,275 inhabitants lives mainly off coconut plantations in the three corners of the island.

Languages

Like many islands in Vanuatu, Ambrym has its own Austronesian languages. In the north is the North Ambrym language, in the southeast is the Southeast Ambrym language, in the south Daakaka language, in the west Lonwolwol language, and in the southwest Port-Vato language. These are all spoken by a few hundred to a few thousand speakers each.

The kinship system used by natives of Ambrym can be modeled by a non-commutative group.

Nearby small islands to the south

  • Paama with villages of Liro and Loulep
  • Lopevi with villages of Holen and Halos (now abandoned)

Towns and villages

Southwest

  • Fali - Craig Cove - Baiap - Sesivi - Port Vato - Bwele - Lalinda - Tow - Yaotilie - Sanesup - Emiotungan - Maranata - Pelibetakever

Southeast

  • Toak - Uléi - Utas - Tavéak - Asé - Pawé - Saméo - Endu Pahakol - Benebo

North

Tourism

Tourists are attracted by Ambrym's unique features: the active volcanoes, the tropical vegetation, and the customs of the local villagers. They stay in traditional style bungalows, as there are no hotels on the island.

Transportation

The island is served by two airports, Ulei Airport in the southeast and Craig Cove Airport in the southwest.

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Ambrym yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Ratua Island Resort & Spa

starting $321

Two Canoes Island Getaway

starting $191

Aore Island Resort

starting $147

Bokissa Private Island Resort

starting $446

Deco Stop Lodge

starting $57

Santo Vista Cottage

starting $0

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lopevi

Lopevi (or Lopévi) is an uninhabited island in Malampa Province,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Aoba Island

Aoba, also known as Ambae, is an island in the South Pacific island

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Efate

Located at 16.69° S and 168.36° E in the Pacific Ocean, Efate is an i

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
National Museum of Vanuatu

The National Museum of Vanuatu (or Nasonal Miusium blong Vanuatu) is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Teouma

Teouma is a major archaeological site on the island of Éfaté in V

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mount Tabwemasana

Located on the isolated west coast of Espiritu Santo, Mount

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Shōwa-shinzan

Shōwa-shinzan (昭和新山, Shōwa-shinzan) is a volcanic lava dome in the Sh

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Sakurajima

Sakurajima (桜島), also romanized as Sakurashima or Sakura-jima, is an

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius (in Italian Monte Vesuvio and in Latin Mons Vesuvius)

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Teide

Mount Teide or, in Spanish, Pico del Teide [ˈpiko ðel ˈtejðe] is the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Poás Volcano

The Poás Volcano, in Spanish Volcán Poás, is an active st

See all similar places