Hawaii volcano eruption forms new lava 'island' just off coast

FoxNews.com/Science ^ | July 16, 2018 | Travis Fedschun

[ETL]

The ongoing eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano and continued lava flows into the sea has created a tiny new landmass off the Big Island, officials revealed Friday.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the tiny island formed off the northernmost part of the ocean entry from Fissure 8, and was oozing lava similar to that of the larger lava flow along the coast.

In photos posted by the agency, the "island" is just a few meters off shore, and about 20 to 30 feet in diameter.

"It's most likely part of the fissure 8 flow that's entering the ocean—and possibly a submarine tumulus that built up underwater and emerged above sea level," the USGS said.

But anyone who may have wanted to visit the new landmass in its 'island' form is out of luck, as the agency revealed on Monday it's now connected back to the Big Island by a strip of lava.

"There didn't appear to have been any collapse associated with the island, so it may have been an inflationary feature.

And yes, it's now no longer an 'island' thanks to the lava that's rejoined it with the flow front on land," the USGS said on Twitter in a reply to a question.

[frank ballenger]

No, I was the fool who somehow wrote 2 hour instead of Three Hour Tour. To my lasting shame and guilt.

Now I see your excellent Gilligan’s images. Should have carefully gone through the whole thread.

A few feet away to the new island is still enough space to get people like me into trouble.

[Boogieman]

Actually, someone already tried something similar. They found a reef in the pacific that was just below sea level and hauled a bunch of sand/gravel there to build it up into an island. Then they proclaimed it a new sovereign country under their control.

The problem was that their new “country” didn’t have an army or navy, so the nearest country just sent an armed naval vessel there, and said “this belongs to us now”.