Mother Nature can certainly put on a spectacular show when she wants to. Right now, six miles off the coast of the main island of Tonga, Tongatapu, an underwater volcano is blowing its top.
It appears as a small cloud on the horizon from the shore, but when you approach it by boat, it’s pretty amazing. This photograph’s reportedly from a mile and a half away!
According to James M., who kindly sent me these pictures, the volcano is believed to have begun erupting on Monday. Fumes were visible from Tongatapu by late on Tuesday, and these pictures were taken on Wednesday.
Apparently geologists expect the eruption to die down within the next week or two, but no-one knows for sure. If it goes on long enough, a new island might emerge as the lava builds up.
Here’s a news report of the eruption.
Magnificent spectacle! It reminds us that, no matter how we might like to envision ourselves as masters of all we survey, Nature can still put us very firmly in our place anytime she wants to.
Peter
If it’s near Krakatoa, can we call it “Breakalega”?
Jim M.
Nice.