Newly Emerged Volcanic Island Near New Zealand

[Dover]

Mariners Report New Island In South Pacific


WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A new volcanic island has risen from the South Pacific near Tonga, according to reports from two vessels that passed the area.

The crew of the Maiken, a yacht that left the northern Tongan islands group of Vava'u in August, reported on their Web log on August 12 that they saw streaks of light, porous pumice stone floating in the water -- then "sailed into a vast, many-miles-wide belt of densely packed pumice."

They posted photos of huge "pumice rafts" that they encountered after passing Tonga's Late island while sailing toward Fiji.

"We were so fascinated and busy taking pictures that we plowed a couple of hundred meters into this surreal floating stone field before we realized that we had to turn back," wrote a crewman identified only as Haken.

The next day they spotted an active volcanic island, Haken wrote.

He said they could see the volcanic island clearly. "One mile in diameter and with four peaks and a central crater smoking with steam and once in a while an outburst high in the sky with lava and ashes. I think we're the first ones out here," he reported.

There was no official confirmation of a new island, either from Tonga's Ministry of Lands or the Tonga Defense Service...

Cont'd

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/09/new.island.ap/index.html



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Geologist hopes to visit newly emerged volcanic island near Tonga


WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Tonga's chief geologist said Tuesday he hopes to visit a neighboring island that recently rose from the Pacific Ocean during a recent undersea volcanic eruption, before waves erode it.

Government geologist Kelepi Mafi said he plans to visit the chunk of rock next week if his country can afford to send a military ship there.

Satellite images and passing sailors' reports suggest a new piece of land emerged from the ocean near the northern Tongan island group of Vava'u in early August.

Mafi said no officials had yet been to the site, where yacht crews described an active volcanic island 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) in diameter, with four peaks and a central crater.

..cont'd

Maiken blog: http://yacht-maiken.blogspot.com/2006/08/stone-sea-and-volcano.html

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[SteppingRazor]

1. Gotta Run!! Time to fly to New Zealand, catch a fast boat to the island...

and annex it for my newly formed kingdom! :evilgrin:

[CottonBear]

2. How cool is that? Miles wide area of floating pumice rafts and they sailed a yacht into it!

:wow:

[Warpy]

3. That explains the multitude of 6.0+ quakes in that area

I can't say I'm surprised. I'm also expecting to see something pop up around the Rat Islands eventually, although activity in that area has quieted in the last month.

[damntexdem]

4. Volcanic activity is very violent, so that island is harboring terrorism!

We need to invade! ;-)