Manam

Manam
Manam Volcano
Elevation	1,807 m (5,928 ft)[1]
Prominence	1,807 m (5,928 ft)[2]
Listing	Ultra
Location
Manam Location off the coast of New Guinea
Location	Northeast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
Coordinates	4°04′39″S 145°02′21″E / 4.07750°S 145.03917°E / -4.07750; 145.03917Coordinates: 4°04′39″S 145°02′21″E / 4.07750°S 145.03917°E / -4.07750; 145.03917[2]
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	2013 (ongoing)

Manam, known locally as Manam Motu, is an island located in the Bismarck Sea across the Stephan Strait from Yawar on the northeast coast of mainland Papua New Guinea. The island is 10 kilometers wide, and was created by the activity of the Manam Volcano, one of the country’s most active. It was inhabited until 2004, but it is now abandoned and its residents resettled elsewhere in Papua New Guinea. Prior to the most recent activity, the island was reached by boat from the mainland from nearby Bogia.

Geology

Large ash plume From Manam Volcano, November 2004

Manam is a basaltic-andesitic stratovolcano, and despite remarkably symmetrical lower flanks has four distinct valleys, locally known as "avalanche valleys" due to their ability to focus avalanches and particularly pyroclastic flows generated at the summit. These valleys represent the highest-risk areas during eruptions, and, when the island was inhabited, were typically the first areas to be evacuated during heightened activity. The earliest documented eruption of Manam was in 1616.^[1]

Eruptions and hazards

Sulfur dioxide cloud released by the January 27, 2005 eruption of Manam, as measured by the OMI aboard NASA's Aura satellite.

Thirteen local residents were killed during an eruption on 3 December 1996, when pyroclastic flows reached the village of Budua.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2004, a major eruption forced the emergency evacuation of over 9,000 inhabitants of the island. The eruption began October 24 but was not seen as a major threat until the wind changed pushing ash and debris towards inhabited areas. Five people died during the eruption. On December 11, the threat was downgraded due to a reduction in activity. There remain significant problems at Bogia on the mainland where the evacuees are currently residing in resettlement camps at Mangem, Asarumba and Potsdam.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2007 the government of Papua New Guinea made a large area of land available for permanent resettlement of displaced islanders at Andarum near Bogia. Also in March 2007, three people were killed by mudslides on the northern part of the island.^{[citation needed]}

Map of Manama and adjacent coast

Residents

Manam Islanders have their own language called Manam Pile (literally "Manam talk"), which is spoken on Manam and the nearby Boisa Islands. Manam islanders have a reputation in Papua New Guinea for musicianship and have produced several locally renowned musicians.^{[citation needed]}

History

The first recorded sighting by Europeans of Manam Island was by the Spanish navigator Iñigo Órtiz de Retes on 5 August 1545 when on board of the carrack San Juan tried to return from Tidore to New Spain. ^[3]

See also

• List of volcanoes in Papua New Guinea
• List of Ultras of Oceania

References

External links

• http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1876049.htm
• "Manam High Point, Papua New Guinea" on Peakbagger