These are the first photographs of new volcanic island off Tonga!
The new one-mile island off Tonga is believed to have formed after a volcano exploded underwater and then expanded!
The pre-eruption satellite view before the island on the left became fused with the volcanic crater created by Hunga Tonga (Pleiades © CNES 2015)
The post-eruption satellite view after the island on the left became joined to the crater which created a larger land mass (Pleiades © CNES 2015)
The new volcanic island (centre) forms a trio with the older Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai volcanic islets, Tonga.
The surface of the island was still hot and the green lake in the crater smelt strongly of sulphur.
The one-mile long cone-shaped island began forming last month, about forty miles from the nation’s capital, and is now safe to walk on.
Experts believe a volcano exploded underwater and then expanded until an island formed. The island is expected to erode back into the ocean in a matter of months.
Tonga’s lands and natural resources ministry said last month the new volcanic island was half a mile wide and just under a mile long. It is believed to be about 820 feet high.
