Monowai Seamount
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The Monowai is a submarine volcano, which is located north of New Zealand about halfway between the Kermadecinseln and Tonga. It reaches a height of 132 below sea level, at a water depth of about 1500 meters. The basaltic volcano located at the southern end of the Tonga Ridge, a little off the Kermadec volcanoes. Small parasitic cones are located north and west of the flanks of the volcano. The mountain is named after a research submarine of the Royal New Zealand Navy, which has carried out investigations at him. In the northeast of the volcano, about 8 miles away, there is a 8.5 times 11 km wide submarine caldera, which is located more than 1500 meters deep.
The mountain was first positively identified in 1977 as the basis of a volcanic eruption. Whether an eruption of this volcano was observed already in 1944, is unclear. Since then, outbreaks are recorded regularly. On the sea surface were water discoloration, vigorous gas leaks and areas where deep water rises observed. There is sometimes some even rumble.