The western islands, such as ʻAta (also known as Pylstaart island), Fonuafo'ou, Tofua, Kao, Lata'iki, Late, Fonualei, Toku, Niuatoputapu, and Tafahi, make up the Tongan Volcanic Arc and are all of volcanic origin.David V. Burley, Tongan Archaeology and the Tongan Past, 2850-150 B.P, Journal of World Prehistory, Vol. 12, No. 3 (September 1998) They were created from the subduction of the westwards-moving Pacific plate under the Australia-India plate at the Tonga Trench. The Tongan Islands sit on the Australia-India plate just west of the Tonga Trench. These volcanoes are formed when materials in the descending Pacific plate heat and rise to the surface. There is only limited coral reef development on these islands, except for Niuatoputapu.
the western islands such as ʻata (also known as pylstaart island) fonuafo'ou tofua kao lata'iki late fonualei toku niuatoputapu and tafahi make up the tongan volcanic arc and are all of volcanic origindavid v burley tongan archaeology and the tongan past 2850-150 bp journal of world prehistory vol 12 no 3 (september 1998) they were created from the subduction of the westwards-moving pacific plate under the australia-india plate at the tonga trench the tongan islands sit on the australia-india plate just west of the tonga trench these volcanoes are formed when materials in the descending pacific plate heat and rise to the surface there is only limited coral reef development on these islands except for niuatoputapu