NIIJMA, THE NEWEST ADDITION TO EARTH

Introduction:

- On November 21st, Japanese Coast Guards released photos of a brand new island created by an eruption of an underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometers south of the country's capital, Tokyo.

INFORMATION

• Niijma 13.8 acres and rises just 60 to 80 feet about the ocean waters.
• The arc that extends 2,800 km all the way from south of Tokyo to beyond Guam, lies along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring Of Fire' - a region where 90% of the world's earthquakes occur.
• Niijima is so young that the thin puffs of smoke and volcanic ash can still be seen spewing up. This is good news to scientists because it indicates that the islet is still growing and may last longer than those recently formed near Pakistan and the Red Sea, which simply eroded away after a short time.

Video

http://youtu.be/xQzQJYyMs8U

QUESTIONS

• How many feet above the ocean water is niijma?
• On what day did they release photos of niijma?
• Do you think scientists should do research on this newly found island?