Islands have regularly formed in Kuwae caldera. The 1897-1901 eruption built an island 1 km long and 15 m high. It disappeared within 6 months. The 1948-1949 eruption formed an island and built a cone 1.6 km in diameter and 100 m high. That island also lasted less than one year. All the islands have disappeared from wave action and caldera floor movements. In 1959, the island reappeared for a short time and again in 1971. The last structure remained an island until 1975.