Garbuna Group, Volcanic peaks in Willaumez Peninsula, Papua New Guinea.
The Garbuna Group is a north-south volcanic ridge about 7 km long on the Willaumez Peninsula, just west of Kimbe. It holds the stratovolcanoes Krummel (854 m) and Welcker (1005 m), Garbuna itself, and the Numundo maar, built of andesite and dacite. Garbuna has a large thermal field, probably Papua New Guinea's largest, and tropical forest covers the slopes.
The volcanic complex formed through the geological processes that shaped the region of New Britain over time. A notable eruption in 2005 demonstrated the ongoing activity of these volcanic formations.
The 2005 eruption damaged nearby plantations and made local drinking water sources unfit for consumption. The volcano lies less than 20 km west of Kimbe, the main urban centre of West New Britain and the site of an important palm oil industry.
Access to the volcanic area requires official permits and a local guide familiar with the terrain and conditions. Visitors should plan for visits during drier periods when trails and paths are more accessible.
Garbuna holds what is probably Papua New Guinea's largest thermal field, with hot mud springs, geysers and fumaroles that stayed active through the volcano's 1,800-year sleep. When it erupted on 17 October 2005, ash rose 4,000 m above the summit and a second vent opened within days.
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