Download this poster for at-home printing or use as an Earth Science teaching graphic. 

Vailuluʻu Seamount is the only active underwater volcano in the Samoan Archipelago. Located 45 km east of Taʻū Island, and protected within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, Vailuluʻu is a hotspot volcano where a hot magma plume rises from within the Earth,  fueling oozing eruptions through the overlying crust. The hotspot will eventually build the volcano high enough to become the next island in the Samoan chain.

Vailuluʻu rises over 4,400 m from its base to ~600 m deep, making it larger than famous volcanoes like Mt. Fuji (Japan), Mt. Etna (Italy), Mt. Hood (USA).