The one-kilometer-wide island is the result of an underwater volcanic eruption and may continue to grow in the future.
The Japanese archipelago, consisting of over 6,800 small islands that form the country of Japan, has recently added a C-shaped landmass with a diameter of approximately one kilometer, according to the country’s coast guard. The coast guard discovered the new island on August 15, following the eruption of the Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano, located 50 kilometers south of Iwo Jima in the Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific Ocean, which began erupting on August 13.
The new island has a C shape. (Photo: Japan Coast Guard)
According to the coast guard, the area is experiencing intense volcanic activity, with columns of smoke and gas rising more than 15 kilometers from the ocean. Authorities detected large volcanic rock sediments floating on the water while monitoring the eruption from above. Due to the potential for the eruption to continue, the Meteorological Agency issued warnings about smoke and ash in the surrounding maritime areas. The new island, named Niijima, is essentially the summit of a massive underwater volcano.
When an underwater volcano erupts, the lava creates new crust material and forms a volcanic archipelago as it rises above sea level. This phenomenon is not rare, especially around Japan. New islands formed in this manner in Japan in 1904, 1914, and 1986, all of which are now submerged due to erosion.
For example, the eruption in 2013 created a new island that merged with the nearby Nishinoshima Island, forming a landmass resembling the cartoon character Snoopy. The latest island may only exist temporarily or become permanent if the volcano continues to erupt, creating a solid crust. In that case, the island would be added to Japan’s territory due to the underwater volcano located near South Iwo Jima.
Surtsey Island in Iceland is another example of a recently formed volcanic island. In 1963, this volcanic island emerged above sea level and continued to grow through eruptions until 1967. Surtsey became a nature reserve in 1965, and only scientists are allowed to visit the island to ensure that the natural ecosystem continues to exist without interference from the outside world. Newly formed volcanic archipelagos are particularly significant. Some scientists believe they are the “cradle of life” when Earth was completely covered by water.
