Banks Islands Thermal Area

The Banks Islands in northern Vanuatu form a chain of geologically active volcanic islands where geothermal areas, hot springs, and hydrothermal vents reflect the powerful subduction zone tectonics of the Vanuatu arc. The thermal areas of the Banks Islands are integrated into the traditional kastom culture of the Melanesian communities that have inhabited these islands for thousands of years, where hot springs serve both practical and spiritual purposes. The extraordinary biodiversity of the Banks Islands — among the most species-rich island groups in the Pacific — and their traditional culture, maintained with remarkable continuity despite colonial contact, make these geothermal areas part of one of the Pacific's most ecologically and culturally intact island environments.