This Island Appeared From Nowhere

1 minute read
This diptych shows before and after satellite views of a new island, created when the island on the left fused with a volcanic crater, off the coast of Tonga. The pre-eruption satellite view before the island on the left became fused with the volcanic crater created by Hunga Tonga.
This diptych shows before and after satellite views of a new island, created when the island on the left fused with a volcanic crater, off the coast of Tonga. The pre-eruption satellite view before the island on the left became fused with the volcanic crater created by Hunga Tonga.Pleiades/CNES/SIPA
By Sarah Begley

The eruption of the underwater Hunga Tonga volcano in December has created a new island in the South Pacific.

The island is 1,640 feet long and made up of rock sediment from magma, the BBC reports. It’s likely to be dangerous for visitors, and remains highly unstable. One visitor noted that the surface was still hot to the touch, and another said we can’t be sure if the volcano is done erupting.

The new island is only 28 miles away from Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa.

[BBC]

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