Matthew and Hunter Islands

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Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Matthew and Hunter Islands on the right bottom

The Matthew and Hunter Islands are a group of 2 small and uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Pacific, located 300 km east of New Caledonia and south-east of Vanuatu archipelago. Hunter Island and Matthew Island, 70 km closed, are both claimed by Vanuatu (for Tafea province) and France (for New Caledonia).

Small, arid, without fresh water and not easily accessible, the islands did not draw interest from English and French in their Oceania colonization during the 18th and 19th centuries. France officially annexed both islands in 1929. In 1965, the United Kingdom claimed the two islands, as part of New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) before a symbolic occupancy by French Navy in 1975. In 1980, Vanuatu, new independent state claimed his sovereignty but with no occupation of the position or land use. In 1981, Météo-France set an automatic weather station on one of the islands and Pacific French Navy regularly visits both of the islands.

[edit] Matthew Island

île Matthew in french, the island is a 177 meter high stratovolcano located in 22.33 S, 171.32 E (22°33′S 171°32′E)

Captain Thomas Gilbert of the Royal Navy on board the Charlotte discovered Matthew Island on 27th May 1788 and named it after the owner of his ship. The island is in fact two conic islets attached by a 200 meter broad rocky isthmus. The east part is made of lava and slags, with a serrated peak of 177 meters high and the east part is made of basalt with a 142 meter peak. There is still a small volcanic activity on the island with sulfuric fumaroles from south-east island craters. Configuration of the island seems to have changed during the last century because it was described with only one peak before the second world war. Last eruptions of Matthew Island Volcano happened in 1976?, 1966?, 1956, 1954, 1949 and 1828?.

Météo-France, the French public establishment for the forecasting and study of weather, set an automatic weather station on the island in 1981.

[edit] Hunter Island

île Hunter in French, also known as Fern or Fearn Island, 70 km west of Matthew Island. About 1km2 area, the island have a dome shape, 242 meter high

Captain Fearn, on board of the whaler "Hunter" discovered the island (probably in 1798) and named it after his ship.

For other uses, see Hunter Island.