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16 images Created 7 Apr 2020

Yasur's Blessing

Tanna Island is a lush volcanic oasis in the South Pacific's Vanuatu archipelago. It is home to one of earth's most active and accessible volcanoes, Mount Yasur. Yasur is a stratovolcano and is known for its explosive strombolian eruptions producing lava bombs from its two lava lake vents. The native Ni-Vanuatu (Melanesian) people are incredibly self sufficient, the lush tropical climate combined with mineral rich volcanic soil allows fruit and vegetables to flourish on what is Vanuatu's most fertile island. The organic produce is traded at local markets every few days. The island has developed a successful and economically important coffee industry, the Tanna Coffee Development Company is a certified organic operation who export 40% of their harvest. In March 2015 Vanuatu was devastated by category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam, the 320km/h winds claimed a total of 24 lives, destroying villages and levelling 90% of the coffee farms, all but wiping out their homegrown industry. The industry is clawing its way back but the island nation has a major ongoing problem, climate change, and it's knocking on their door, literally. Tidal flooding, erosion and an increase in cyclone frequency and intensity is becoming all too real, ironically for the worlds lowest greenhouse gas emitters.
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  • Vibrant sunset off the coast of Lenakel, on Vanuatu's Tanna Island.
    20190324-L1030694-0023-Edit.jpg
  • Women at the local market in Lenakel on Tanna Island, the markets are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and are an important trading hub for the islanders.
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  • The coffee industry is an important economical boost for Tanna residents, it's grown, harvested and prepared for sales in a small factory near Lenakel.
    20190319-L1020979-0149-Edit.jpg
  • The coffee industry is an important economical boost for Tanna residents, it's grown, harvested and prepared for sales in a small factory near Lenakel.
    20190319-L1030012-0213-Edit.jpg
  • Ni-Vanuatu kids play in a volcanic river flowing near Yasur volcano.
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  • A driver navigates his way across the large ash plains surrounding Yasur volcano, there is now a river crossing which was caused by a natural dam bursting upstream.
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  • A young Ni-Vanuatu boy sits for a sunset lit portrait near the coast of Tanna island.
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  • Youth explore the slopes of Yasur volcano during a tour around the volcano rim trail.
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  • A groupd of travellers hike up the slopes of Yasur volcano during a tour around the volcano rim trail.
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  • Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is famous for its Strombolian eruptions, it is said that Captain Cook used the glow of Yasur for navigaion in the South Pacific.
    20190321-_HH_2340-0327-Edit.jpg
  • Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is famous for its Strombolian eruptions, it is said that Captain Cook used the glow of Yasur for navigaion in the South Pacific.
    20190321-L1030412-0201-Edit.jpg
  • Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is famous for its Strombolian eruptions, it is said that Captain Cook used the glow of Yasur for navigaion in the South Pacific.
    20190320-_HH_1953-0012-Edit.jpg
  • Yasur volcano on Tanna Island is famous for its Strombolian eruptions, it is said that Captain Cook used the glow of Yasur for navigaion in the South Pacific.
    20190321-_HH_2227-0214-Edit.jpg
  • Yasur volcano is surrounded by an extensive ash plain, centuries of explosive eruptions has resulted in the build up of layer upon layer of ash. The volcano also showers surrounding forests and farms with ash, effectively fertilising the land, but if it is too much it is has the opposite affect and will kill crops due to its acidity.
    20190321-L1030194-0039-Edit.jpg
  • Young Ni-Vanuatu kids play at the beach until dark, playing in the water and football on the black volcanic sand beach.
    20190322-L1030639-0267-Edit.jpg
  • Young Ni-Vanuatu kids play at the beach until dark, playing in the water and football on the black volcanic sand beach.
    20190322-L1030665-0319-Edit.jpg