Ambrym (also known as Ambrin,[3] "ham rim" in the Ranon language)[4] was allegedly named by Captain Cook, who is said to have anchored off there in 1774.

[citation needed] Located near the center of the Vanuatuan archipelago, Ambrym is roughly triangular in shape, about 50 km (31 mi) wide.

The summit at the centre of the island is dominated by a desert-like caldera, which covers an area of 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi).

[5] The western part of the island, comprising 17,605 ha of forest, together with gardens around habitation, has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of Vanuatu megapodes, Tanna fruit doves, red-bellied fruit doves, grey-eared honeyeaters, cardinal myzomelas, fan-tailed gerygones, long-tailed trillers, streaked fantails, Melanesian flycatchers, buff-bellied monarchs and Vanuatu white-eyes.

[7] While at higher elevations cinder cones predominate, the western tip of the island is characterized by a series of basaltic tuff rings, of which the largest is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in diameter.

[13] In the north: In the southeast: In the southwest: Tourists are attracted by Ambrym's active volcanoes, tropical vegetation, and the customs of the local villagers.