Mariners report new island in South Pacific

CNN ^ | November 9, 2006 | Unattributed

[Ben Mugged]

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.

Separately, fishing boat captain Siaosi Fenukitau reported seeing the volcanic island, the Matangitonga news Web site reported.

Richard Wunderman, editor of the Washington-based Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, said "a large pumice raft presumably from Tonga has been sweeping across Fiji, and we are trying to learn about its origins."

[angcat]

Thank you

[nomorelurker]

"tiny REMAX sign"

Ok you owe me a new keyboard. I just spit water all over this one.

[angcat]

Cool

[txhurl]

Must bring own copper still.
Firewood, too.
Solar plant helpful.

Can I come? Please? I'll run the fisheries operation.

[Toby06]

Why do you need firewood with molten rock all around you? Where wood you store it?

[txhurl]

We smoke our BBQ here in TX.

[Mat_Helm]

"Take me to the Big Woooo!"

[Toby06]

Point taken. I'm sure mesquite smoke is way better than basalt smoke.

[Toby06]

Damn! I had almost forgotten I wasted an hour and a half of my life watching that movie until your post.

[Strategerist]

It's within the territorial waters of Tonga.

[Old Professer]

Time to post watch on all the indigenous species before global warming eliminates them.

[MeanWestTexan]

Sure, you can be vice-benevalent dictator for life.

I've got a micro beer brewery and great kosher beer recipes.

[Dead Corpse]

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn...

[Mat_Helm]

I know what you mean, still it was funny as heck to see Abe Vigoda (Fish) from Barney Miller show up as the chief of the orange soda drinking island dwellers. Sort of like Nancy Pelosi and her cool aid drinking majority.

[Toby06]

Thank God for google & wikipedia!

[Dead Corpse]

LOL... sorry. I guess I should have hotlinked the jpg to the Lovecraft Wiki...

[Toby06]

No way! It's more fun to do the research.

[G Larry]

Nope, that's Starbucks!

[TC Rider]

How about the Heinlein method of property tax.

Appraise your own property, but be prepared to sell it to the first person who offers you that amount.

[38special]

Cool, some new reef breaks!