What is the highest mountain in Vanuatu?

The highest mountain in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, which rises to about 1,879 metres above sea level. It stands on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island, in the country’s rugged western interior.

Tabwemasana is part of a remote, heavily forested mountain landscape. Reaching it can require a boat journey, a trek through difficult terrain, and local guidance, so it is far less frequently climbed than many better-known Pacific peaks. The mountain is also notable for having two summits; local tradition describes them as a male and female peak that meet in an embrace at night.

The mountain’s isolation has helped preserve distinctive biodiversity. The tree species Metrosideros tabwemasanaensis is known only from Mount Tabwemasana, making the peak important not just geographically but botanically.

Several wrong answers can seem plausible because Vanuatu is volcanic and has many prominent summits. Mount Yasur, on Tanna, is famous for its active crater, while Mount Garet is a notable volcano on Gaua. Neither is the nation’s highest point.