Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes in Tongatapu Island, Tonga
Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes in Tongatapu Island, Tonga
The Mapu a Vaea or Whistle of the Noble are natural blowholes on the island of Tongatapu in the village of Houma in the Kingdom of Tonga. When waves crash into the reef, natural channels in the volcanic rock allow water to forcefully blow through and create a plume-like effect. It is one of the highlights of the tours around the island of Tongatapu. Vaea is the name of the Honorable Vaea Family of nearby Houma.
Some of the most spectacular blowholes in the South Pacific can be found along the terraced coastline of south west Tongatapu. These blowholes stretch for 5km along the south shore of Tongatapu.
The western islands of Tonga are formed from coral reefs. Waves wash against the coral, the pressure from it wears a hole, causing the water to shoot up. They are best viewed on a windy day at high tide, when the maximum amount of water is forced up through natural vents in the coral limestone, forming geyser-like fountains of seawater.
Here you'll find not one blowhole, but hundreds of them along this three mile stretch of wild windswept coastline.
It is reputed that one of the ancient Chiefs of Tonga spent his hours meditating over the blowholes and listening to the whistling of the waves - hence their name - 'Mapu'a 'a Vaca' meaning 'Chief's Whistles'.
In geology, a blowhole is formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and expose themselves towards the surface, which can result in quite spectacular blasts of water from the top of the blowhole if the geometry of the cave and blowhole and state of the weather are appropriate.
Geologists believe that blowholes where created by volcanic flow, shaping a cavity which was then eroded by sea water. Another theory claims that a blowhole is a stage in the erosion of cavaties originally created by freshwater once above sea level. Sea waves, according to this theory, entering a cavity will splash upwards on the cavity walls, and together with the strong air currents entering and leaving the cavity will erode the rock and create a blowhole in stages. First an elongated cavity will be created, then upward shafts are added to the cavity. When the erosion creates a cavity in the upper end of the existing cavity the blowhole phenomenon is received. Finally a crack is created releasing more of the air at lower pressure, loosing the blowhole effect, until the cavity roof is completely eroded and opened first into an arch and then into a stack.
The basic physics which are thought to explain the blowhole phenomenon are a large cavity with an opening under water and a 'spout' - a small opening to the air at the end of a shaft. When entering the cavity, water compresses the air, causing a secondary wave which leaves through the 'spout' followed by a burst of water and air. When leaving the cavity, the water is delayed by pressure at sea on the one hand and low air pressure in the cavity on the other, because the spout cannot let air in at the speed of the outbound water. The air filled from the 'spout' creates another secondary wave, this time outwards bound, which then pushes the water out in an action similar to the spurts of water when emptying a bottle, after air had been permitted in..
No known research has ever been done modeling or excavating blowholes.
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TONGA BLOWHOLES | MAPU A VAEA | TONGATAPU | TONGA FAMILY VLOG DAY 3
#Tonga #BlowHoles #Tongatapu
This must have been one of my favorite “tourist attractions” on the island of Tongatapu. These natural blow holes are called Mapu a Vaea or Whistle of the Noble. You can find them in the village of Houma in the Kingdom of Tonga.
From what we understand, there are some days when the ocean is so calm and you can’t see them. However, the day we went the waves seemed angry. They put on an awesome show for us. We really enjoyed nature that day as we watched the ocean put on a wonderful water show for us.
Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes in Tonga
This beautiful coastline is a little drive out of the capital Nuku'alofa on the island of Tongatapu. When the waves crash into the coast they explode out of holes in the rocks with great force and spectacle. It's incredible to watch. You see the bright blue wave arrive and explode like synchronised fireworks, one at a time as it meets the rocks, then the whitewash waterfalls back into the ocean before it explodes again. And it is happening as far as you can see down the coast.
Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes (Tongatapu Island)
Our holiday in Tongatapu, very nice place, we also visited the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui. Massive Rock. Located in Niutoua..
The Awe-Inspiring Mapu a Vaea Blowholes in Tonga
Watching the constant barrage of water shooting up blowholes along the 5km stretch of coral on the south shore of the Tongan side of the island of Tongatapu. It was an awe-inspiring sight to see the water shooting 30m in the air from multiple spots at once. And the best part? I was the only tourist there.
TONGA: The magnificent BLOWHOLES, island of TONGATAPU (PACIFIC OCEAN) ????
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's go visit the 'Mapu a Vaea' or 'Whistle of the Noble' which are natural blowholes on the island of Tongatapu in the village of Houma in the Kingdom of Tonga (Pacific Ocean). When waves crash into the reef, natural channels in the volcanic rock allow water to forcefully blow through and create a plume-like effect. It is one of the highlights of the tours around the island of Tongatapu. Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago. The Tongan capital city, Nuku‘alofa, on the north coast, is home to the waterfront Royal Palace. Indoor and outdoor stalls at the Talamahu Market sell tropical produce plus local arts and crafts. In the east of the island is the ancient capital Mu’a, now an archaeological site with centuries-old, pyramid-like royal tombs and burial mounds.
Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 South Pacific islands, many uninhabited, most lined in white beaches and coral reefs and covered with tropical rainforest. The main island, Tongatapu, is protected by lagoons and limestone cliffs. It’s home to the rural capital of Nuku'alofa, as well as beach resorts, plantations and the Ha'amonga ʻa Maui, a monumental coral gate from the 1200s.
Vic Stefanu, vstefanu@yahoo.com.
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TONGA, EXPLORING the famous natural Blowholes on the island of TONGATAPU ????
SUBSCRIBE: - Let's look at the natural blowholes on the island of Tongatapu in the village of Houma in the Kingdom of Tonga. When waves crash into the reef, natural channels in the volcanic rock allow water to forcefully blow through and create a plume-like effect. It was one of the highlights of my tour around the island of Tongatapu. Vic Stefanu, vstefanu@yahoo.com. Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is a Polynesian sovereign state and archipelago comprising 169 islands of which 36 are inhabited. The total surface area is about 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean. It has a population 103,000 people of whom 70% reside on the main island of Tongatapu.
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TONGA RUGBY UNION FINALS
Tongatapu Rugby Union Finals live from Teufaiva, Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga. 27 August, 2016.
1. Development (12:15pm)
MARIST vs TOLOA
2. Senior (1:45pm)
MARIST vs KAU SELA HU'ATOLITOLI
3. Premier (3:30pm)
MARIST vs SILA PELU UA
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Seahabilitated in Tonga
Welcome Whale rider come swim with me. Be in my ocean and glide in the sea.
Join me in the turquoise waters of Vava'u for whale and dive adventures never to be forgotten!
Many thanks to Lachie (Kiwi Scuba Divers) Auckland Scuba and to the crew Matt, Mike, Laura, Darin, Jeni & Brent for making the trip just that extra bit special.
Filmed August 2019 - Vava'u Tonga
Credits:
Music: The Truth Hurts - Unknown Artist
Got Real (medium)- Epidemic Sound
Made to Survive (High) - Robert Ruth
Lucid Dreams (instrumental) - Tape Machines
Auckland Scuba
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Mapu a Vaea - Tonga
Mapu a Vaea - Blowholes on Tongatapu Island. The main island in the Tonga group