The land is covered with the volcanic
andesitic lava. The soil is very fertile and used for growing
food crop and
cash crop. The island is full of
betel-nut,
mustard plant and
lime. The island is also known for the view from the mountain looking down to
Madang town. The latest eruptions on this island occurred in the 1970s. The 1974–1975 eruption produced a large volume of lava which covered almost 70% of the inner caldera's floor, while 1979 produced no lava flow, but killed two
volcanologists, Robin Cooke and Elias Ravian. The volcano erupted as recently as February 26, 2013. The population of approximately 70,000 is mostly
Lutheran and
Catholic and speaks the two languages
Waskia and
Takia. Most people also speak Tok Pisin, and English is taught in the schools. Neighboring islands are
Bagabag (Papua New Guinea) and
Manam. A single road runs around the entire length of the island. Karkar Secondary School is the only high school. There is one hospital, Gaubin Hospital, known formally as the Edwin & Tabitha Tscharke Memorial Hospital, which is run by the
Lutheran Health Service and staffed by several rotating German doctors. The hospital includes a training center for Community Health Workers. The two main exports from the island are
cacao and
coconuts, which can grow in the same soil due to vast height differences. Large plantations are generally family-owned. ==History==