Manam Motu

{{about|the island|the Manam language|Manam language|the Syrian film of Mohammad Malas|al-Manam|the film|Manam (film)}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Manam

| photo = Manam Volcano.jpg

| photo_caption = Manam Volcano

| elevation_m = 1807

| elevation_ref = {{cite gvp|vnum=251020|name=Manam}}

| prominence_m = 1807

| prominence_ref = [http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/PNG1500m.html "Papua New Guinea Ultra-Prominence Page"] Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-01-13.

| listing = Ultra

| map = Papua New Guinea

| map_caption = Location off the coast of New Guinea

| map_size = 280

| label_position =

| location = Northeast of New Guinea,
Papua New Guinea

| range =

| coordinates = {{coord|4|04|39|S|145|02|21|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| topo =

| type = Stratovolcano

| age =

| last_eruption = 2010 to 2024 (ongoing){{Cite news|title=Manam volcano|url=https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/manam.html|date=19 Feb 2018|language=English}}

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route =

}}

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's Bogia District. The island is {{Convert|10|km|sp=us}} wide, and was created by the activity of the Manam Volcano, one of the country’s most active. The island was evacuated in 2004 and its residents resettled elsewhere in Papua New Guinea, but many have begun to return despite concerns of future volcanic activity. Manam is still erupting as of January 2024. [https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/manam/news/230606/Manam-Volcano-Volcanic-Ash-Advisory-VA-TO-FL090-OBS-AT-042330Z-MOV-WSW-OBS-VA-DTG-042330Z-to-9000-ft.html] January 12, 2024

Geology

Image:Manam-nov-2004.jpg

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.

History

The first recorded sighting by Europeans of Manam Island was on 5 August 1545 by the Spanish navigator Iñigo Órtiz de Retes on board the carrack San Juan, trying to return from Tidore to New Spain.Coello, Francisco "Conflicto hispano-alemán" Boletín de Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid, t.XIX. 2º semestre 1885, Madrid, p.317.

Eruptions and hazards

Image:Manam omi 2005028.gif 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|date=April 2008}}

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 have been significant problems at Bogia on the mainland where the evacuees resettled in camps at Mangem, Asarumba and Potsdam.{{Cite web|url=http://www.emtv.com.pg/article.aspx?slug=Hunger-Struck-Manam-Islanders-At-The-Care-Centres&subcategory=Top-Stories|title=Starving Manam Islanders at Care Centres Speak Out|publisher=EM TV Online|date=8 Feb 2016}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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. As of 2014, at least 2000-3000 people have returned to the island despite continued government concerns for their safety.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

Image:Manam-txu-oclc-6552576-sb55-1.jpg

On March 8, 2022, the volcano erupted, sending a column of ash {{Convert|15|km|4=0|abbr=on}} into the atmosphere. The eruption was confirmed by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia.{{cite news |title=Large eruption occurs in Papua New Guinea; no tsunami in Japan |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/b5ee82bb103e-urgent-large-eruption-occurs-in-papua-new-guinea-japan-weather-agency.html |access-date=8 March 2022 |work=Kyodo News |date=8 March 2022 |location=Tokyo, Japan}}

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|date=April 2008}}