27 White Island Facts: Learn More About This Volcanic Island

There is something about volcanic islands that just draws us in.

Maybe it is the danger they pose or the mystery of what lies beneath the surface. Situated off the coast of New Zealand, this small island is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

White Island is notorious for its dangerous volcanic activity, including explosive eruptions! Periods of heightened volcanic unrest are often characterized by major eruptions along with the presence of dense clouds of volcanic gases and ash emissions for a prolonged period of time. Read on to read more about this amazing island!

White Island Facts

Read some interesting White Island facts here!

• White Island hosts one of the most active volcanoes in the world, named Te Puia o Whakaari in Maori or simply Whakaari, meaning 'dramatic volcano'!
• Since it began erupting about 150,000 years ago, White Island has been one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. In fact, it is estimated that the volcano has erupted more than 50 times since record-keeping began with many frequent small eruptions taking place from time to time.
• The island is constantly changing. Due to its ongoing eruptions, White Island is constantly changing shape. These cones are all different shapes and sizes due to the different types of eruptions that have occurred over time.
• The volcano last erupted on December 9, 2019, unfortunately resulting in the deaths of many tourists who were present at the site at that time.
• The island is uninhabited as it is an island with a large amount of active volcanic activity. White Island has never been inhabited. This is likely because the island is constantly changing shape and is surrounded by dangerous cliffs and hot springs.
• Like all volcanoes, White Island was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. These began around 150,000 years ago and continue to this day!
• Because of its uninhabited status, White Island is home to a variety of different birds and animals. These include seabirds such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as land birds like the weka and the kea. The island is also home to many different animal species, including bats, lizards, and a number of invertebrates. It is also one of New Zealand's main breeding colonies for Australasian gannets, large seabirds.
• White Island is rich in a variety of different minerals. These include sulfur, copper, lead, and zinc which can be seen in the island's many hot springs and steam vents. In fact, the mineral deposits on White Island are so valuable that they have been mined in the past!
• White Island is home to New Zealand's only geyser, which is called 'Geyser Creek'. The geyser is located on the south-east side of the island, and regularly erupts water up to 98 ft (30 m) high!

White Island's History

White Island is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has been erupting for thousands of years. In fact, the first recorded eruption from the island occurred over 2,000 years ago!

• Unlike many other volcanic islands around the world, White Island is privately owned. The island was purchased in 1988 by Paul Clarke, a businessman from Auckland. Since then, Clarke has made it his mission to protect and promote the island, opening it up for tours in 2001.
• White Island has been featured in a number of different films over the years. These include 'Lord Of The Rings' (where it was used as a filming location for Mount Doom), 'King Kong' (which showed aerial footage of the island), and 'The Last Samurai' (in which White Island was used as a stand-in for Japan).
• White Island has also been featured on a number of different TV shows, including 'Ice Road Truckers' (which showed footage of truck drivers traveling to and from the island), 'Deadliest Catch' (which followed fishermen as they caught white pointers near the island), and 'Wildest Islands' (in which White Island was described as 'the new Galapagos').
• In the early 20th century, White Island was home to a sulfur mine. The mine was operated by Clarke Sulphur and New Zealand Smelting Company and produced over 150,000 tonnes (150 million kg) of sulfur each year! However, operations were stopped due to the collapse of a crater wall, making it risky for further activity.
• Since World War II, White Island has been used by the New Zealand military for training purposes. This includes training for both army and navy personnel and pilots who need to practice landing on an active volcano!

Facts For Tourists

Even though people do not live on the island, you are able to visit this volcano.

• The island is a popular tourist destination. White Island has become a popular tourist destination due to its unique combination of beauty and danger. Each year, around 11,000 people visit the island. The majority take one of the guided tours that are offered. Tours range from short walks around the main crater to full-day adventures that include climbing onto the active volcanoes!
• There is also a whale sanctuary tour. Tourists can witness whales and dolphins swimming in the ocean surrounding the island!
• The island can either be accessed by boat or by helicopter and jet plane. The closest ports are Whakatane and Tauranga. Traveling by boat allows more sightseeing opportunities, with many species of whales, dolphins, birds, and other marine life being available to spot on the way!
• Helicopters and planes don't actually land on the island, but they do offer spectacular views of the island from the sky!

White Island's Geography

Here are some interesting facts about the geography of the island.

• The island itself is located around 30 mi (48 km) east of the North Island of New Zealand, meaning they are quite close to each other! The island covers an area of roughly 3 sq mi (7.7 sq km).
• White Island is slowly changing shape. Due to its ongoing eruptions, the island's landscape is constantly changing, and the extensive forest cover of pohutukawa has been largely erased. This includes both the island itself and the lakes that surround it. In fact, the island has been known to expand by up to 98 ft (30 km) in a single year!
• The island is currently circular in shape and has a diameter of around 1.2 mi (2 km). The peak located on the exposed island is 5,249 ft (1,600 m) high.
• A major chunk of the island is covered by the main crater, with the floor of the large crater being 18.5 mi (30 m) above sea level. Many craters have appeared on the island over the years and many alert systems for earthquakes and potential eruptions have been installed on the crater walls to alert authorities.