Tinakula is an active volcano 40 km from Santa Cruz island. The island has an impressive stratovolcano shape. An active summit crater ejects glowing lava bombs down the SW side of the volcano. Tinakula Island used to be inhabited before the 1971 eruption and tsunami.
The volcano has been known to be active since reported by Mendana in 1595. The southern side of the island is vegetated and coconut trees grow on cliff tops beyond the reach of the sea.
Periodic eruptions from the volcano are visible from Reef islands and Santa Cruz. On the western side of the island there is a breach probably caused by a landslide. Flanking the breach are cliffs 100 m high.
