Island Created By Volcanic Activity Off Coast of Japan to Keep Growing, May Survive For Years

Hoist your flags?

In late November, volcanic activity 600 miles south of Tokyo gave rise to a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean along the western edge of the "Ring of Fire," and according to the latest findings, the tiny islet is growing and could survive for longer than previously thought.

NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite captured a fresh image of the island, named Niijima, on Dec. 8, which showed that a volcanic eruption is still stirring up sediment around the edges of the island, with faint white puffs streaming southward. In addition to NASA's observations, aerial photography from the Japan Coast Guard also showed Niijima's expansion, with reports saying that the island has grown 19.8 acres in area, which is five times its initial size.