Long Island lies at the northern end of the Vitiaz Strait. It is roughly circular in shape, and about in diameter, with an area of about . There are two prominent peaks, the Mount Reamur in the north, and the Cerisy Peak in the south. Most of the interior is taken up by Lake Wisdom, which is above sea level. Inside the lake is an active volcanic cone. Offshore there is a north westerly current. There were two settlements, Bok in the south east and Malala in the north east. The population of the island was about 250, all native. The island had once supported a larger population, but it had been wiped out by a volcanic eruption. The 1660 Plinian eruption was the third largest volcanic eruption recorded in the last 2,000 years. It was more powerful than the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, and buried Long Island under of volcanic ash.