Nishinoshima, Volcanic island in Ogasawara Village, Japan.
Nishinoshima rises 137 meters above sea level and belongs to the Volcano Islands chain roughly 940 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The island consists of dark volcanic rock and still shows active areas where steam and smoke sometimes emerge.
A major eruption in 1974 created new landmass and changed the original appearance of the island considerably. This volcanic activity continued and kept reshaping the island over time.
Scientists travel here regularly to observe the geological processes and document how plants and animals settle on the new ground. This research helps deepen the understanding of how young volcanic islands develop.
Access to the island requires special permission and coordination with the Ogasawara Village administration due to its protected status. The distance from the mainland and ongoing volcanic activity make any visit a logistical challenge.
The ongoing activity since 2013 caused the island to grow to nearly 20 times its earlier size, mainly through lava flows that solidified at the edges. You can see the reddish glow from the sea when fresh lava flows into the water.
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