World's Largest Volcano Discovered

The Tamu Massif lies 1,000 miles east of Japan on the Pacific floor

The volcano, located 1,000 miles east of Japan and dubbed the Tamu Massif, is the largest on earth as well as one of the biggest within the solar system.

The sprawling structure covers 119,000 square miles, rising around 2.2 miles above the bottom of the sea floor and delving 18 miles into the crust of the earth.

The volcano, which is not believed to be active, consists of a vast single rounded dome in the shape of a shield which was believed to have been formed 144 million years ago when it last erupted.