| Kao (volcano) | |
|---|---|
Kao (smaller island) and Tofua (bigger island) |
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| Elevation | 1,030 m (3,379 ft) [1] |
| Prominence | 1,030 m (3,379 ft) |
| Listing | Country high point |
| Location | |
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Kao
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| Geology | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Kao is an island and stratovolcano in Tonga. It reaches 1,030 m (3,379 ft) above sea level, the highest point in Tonga. The date of its last eruption is unknown, and fresh lava flows are not seen, but the absence of deep erosional gullies or high sea cliffs suggests a very recent origin. It lies about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Tofua island. The slopes of the island rise at angles exceeding 35 degrees to the summit, which has a series of small volcanic craters. The island is densely jungled on its lower flanks , while the upper slopes are almost bare.
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E. W. Gifford, recording Tongan myths and tales in the 1920s, documented this explanation for Tofua's caldera and the creation of Kao Island to the north:
"Three deities from Samoa, Tuvuvata, Sisi, and Faingaa, conspired to steal Tofua. So they came and tore up the high mountain by its very roots and its place was taken by a large lake. This enraged the Tongan gods very much and one of them, Tafakula, essayed to stop the thieves. He stood on the island of Luahako and bent over so as to show his anus. It shone so brilliantly that the Samoan deities were struck with fear, thinking that the sun was rising and that their dastardly work was about to be revealed. Hence, they dropped the mountain and fled to Samoa. The mountain became the island of Kao."[2]