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Niuafo'ou Plate
The Niuafo'ou Plate is a tiny back-arc microplate in the northern Tonga region, named after Niuafo'ou island (also called "Tin Can Island"). It formed behind the Tonga subduction zone as the overriding plate stretched and rifted. The plate hosts active submarine volcanism and hydrothermal vents, part of the highly dynamic Lau Basin spreading system.
Plate Information
Size: 0.06 million km²
Movement: Complex
Speed: Variable
Countries: 1
Countries & Territories
Tonga (partial)
Key Facts
- Small oceanic microplate
- Part of the Tonga subduction system
- High volcanic activity
- Complex back-arc setting