List of islands created since the 20th century explained

See also: List of artificial islands. Below is a list of new islands created since the beginning of the 20th century by volcanism, erosion, glacial retreat, or other mechanisms. One of the most famous new volcanic islands is the small island of Surtsey, located in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland. It first emerged from the ocean surface in 1963. Two years later, Surtsey was declared a nature reserve for the study of ecological succession; plants, insects, birds, seals, and other forms of life have since established themselves on the island.

Another noted new island is Anak Krakatau (the so-called "child of Krakatoa", which formed in the flooded caldera of that notorious volcano in Indonesia), which emerged only in 1930. Ample rainforests have grown there, although they are often destroyed by frequent eruptions. A population of many wild animals, including insects, birds, humanborne rats, and even monitor lizards, have also settled there.

Didicas Volcano off the northern coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines, was first created during a four-year eruption from 1856 to 1860 but eventually got washed away. In 1900, three tall rock masses were left by another eruption. During the 1952 eruption, the island finally became permanent which was further bolstered by subsequent eruptions in 1969 and 1978 into a 228m (748feet)-high island.

Uunartoq Qeqertoq is an island off the east coast of Greenland that appeared to have split from the mainland because of glacial retreat between 2002 and 2005; however, it is believed to have been a true island, with or without glacial covering, for many thousands of years.

In February and March 2009, a vigorous eruption created a new island[1] near Hunga Ha'apai in the Tongan Islands of the southwest Pacific. By the end of the activity, however, the new land mass was connected to Hunga Ha'apai.[2] Similar activity occurred again in December 2014 and January 2015.

On September 24, 2013 a new island named Zalzala Koh emerged off the coast of Gwadar, as a result of a strong earthquake that hit south and southwest Pakistan measuring 7.8 on the Richter magnitude scale.[3]

On November 21, 2013 an unnamed islet emerged off the coast of Nishinoshima, a small, uninhabited island in the Ogasawara chain, which is also known as the Bonin Islands. Less than four days after the new islet's emergence, it was about 200m (700feet) in diameter.[4]

In November 2023, a new island formed as a result of volcanic activity off the coast of Iwo Jima, reaching a diameter of 100 meters.[5]

List of recently created islands

This is a list of new islands that formed during the 20th and the 21st centuries. Of those formed by submarine volcanoes, only Anak Krakatau and Surtsey are currently islands, and Surtsey is the only one that is expected to survive, Ilha Nova is now connected to Faial Island. Newly created landmass adjacent to Nishinoshima is now connected to Nishinoshima.

Name of the islandCountryLand formation year(s)
An unnamed island off of Iwo Jima2023[6]
2022[7] [8]
Qeqertaq Avannarleq2021[9] [10]
Fukutoku-Okanoba2021–2022, 1986, 1974–75, 1914, 1904–05[11]
Metis Shoal2019, 1995–2019, 1979, 1967–68[12]
Shelly Island2017–2018[13] [14]
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai2014–15, 2009[15]
Jadid Island2013[16]
Nishinoshima Shintō2013–15, 1973–74[17]
Zalzala Koh2013;[18] disappeared 2016[19]
Sholan Island2011
Sif Island Antarcticaearly 2010s[20]
Malan Island2010, 2004, 1999[21]
Bhasan Char2006
Didicas Volcano1856–1860, 1900, 1952[22]
Home Reef2022, 2006, 1984[23]
Uunartoq Qeqertaq2005
Norderoogsand1999[24]
Kavachi1999–2003, 1991, 1986, 1978, 1976, 1969–70, 1965, 1963–64, 1961, 1958, 1952–53[25]
Blomstrandøya1991[26]
Kuwae1974, 1971, 1959, 1949, 1948, 1923–25[27]
Jólnir1965–66[28]
Surtsey1963–67[29]
Tigres Island1962[30]
Sandy Point1960s
Ilha Nova (Capelinhos)1957–58[31]
Myōjin-shō1952–53, 1946[32]
Shōwa Iōjima1934[33]
Anak Krakatau1927–30[34]
Fonuafo'ou1927–28[35]
Banua Wuhu1918–19, 1904[36]
Ferdinandea (Graham) island1831–1832

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Jenny . Percival . Underwater volcano creates new island off Tonga . The Guardian . 21 March 2009 . 29 July 2009 . 8 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161208000916/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/21/tonga-volcano-island-nuku-alofa . live .
  2. 243040. Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai.
  3. Web site: Island emerges near Gwadar coast after earthquake. Geo TV Network. 21 November 2013. September 24, 2013. 30 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130930034918/http://www.geo.tv/article-119677-Island-emerges-near-Gwadar-coast-after-earthquake. live.
  4. News: Kurtenbach. Elaine. Volcano raises new island far south of Japan. 23 November 2013. Seattle Times. 22 November 2013. 3 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203143717/http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2022309506_apxjapannewisland.html. live.
  5. News: Underwater volcanic eruption creates new island off Japan, but it "may not last very long" . 10 November 2023 . Associated Press . CBS News.
  6. News: Annio . Francesca . World’s newest island forms in Japanese archipelago . 11 November 2023 . NPR . 9 November 2023 . en.
  7. News: Hernandez . Joe . A new island has emerged out of the Pacific Ocean, but it may soon disappear . 26 September 2022 . NPR . 25 September 2022 . en.
  8. Web site: 2022-01-21 . Dramatic Changes at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai . 2022-10-09 . earthobservatory.nasa.gov . en.
  9. News: Greenland island is world's northernmost island - scientists. BBC. 2021-08-28. 2022-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424055928/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58362752. live.
  10. News: Længere nordpå end nogensinde ("Further North Than Ever") . Weekendavisen . 2021-08-28 . 2021-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210828022014/https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2021-34/ideer/laengere-nordpaa-end-nogensinde . live .
  11. 284130. Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba.
  12. 243070. Metis Shoal.
  13. Web site: Volcanic eruption ends, leaving tiny ash island. The Independent. 30 June 2017 . 30 June 2017. 30 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630154811/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/shelly-island-new-cape-point-bermuda-triangle-dangerous-buxton-north-carolina-a7816501.html. live.
  14. News: Shelly Island is no longer an island, NASA says. 2018-03-09. WWAY TV. 2018-07-11. en-US. 2019-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190207050851/https://www.wwaytv3.com/2018/03/09/shelly-island-is-no-longer-an-island-nasa-says/. live.
  15. Web site: Volcanic eruption ends, leaving tiny ash island. Matangi Tonga Online. 26 January 2015 . 2 February 2015. 2 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150202174604/http://matangitonga.to/2015/01/26/volcanic-eruption-ends-leaving-tiny-ash-island. live.
  16. Web site: Red Sea Parts for 2 New Islands. Becky. Oskin. Scientific American. May 30, 2015. 2015-07-31. 2015-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20150803072542/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-sea-parts-for-2-new-islands/. live.
  17. Web site: Nishonoshima . Volcano database . Japan Coast Guard Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department . 25 November 2013 . ja. 3 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000943/http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/GIJUTSUKOKUSAI/kaiikiDB/kaiyo18-2.htm . live .
  18. Web site: Experts say Gwadar island spewing methane. 21 November 2013. September 25, 2013. 28 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928091317/http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-119806-Gwadar-island-spewing-methane:-Experts-. live.
  19. News: Meet the new islands that have emerged in the last decade. The Telegraph. 2018-10-24. en-GB. 2018-10-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192444/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/new-volcanic-islands-emerged/. live.
  20. News: Specktor . Brandon . Melting ice in Antarctica reveals new uncharted island . February 28, 2020 . . March 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229142148/https://www.livescience.com/uncharted-island-discovered-antarctica.html . February 29, 2020 . live .
  21. Web site: Baloch. Shahzad. Mud volcano surfaces along Balochistan coast. 21 November 2013. 27 November 2010. 1 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131201124057/http://tribune.com.pk/story/82150/new-island-emerges-from-the-depths/. live.
  22. 274020. Didicas.
  23. 243080. Home Reef.
  24. News: New island appears off coast of Germany. 21 November 2013. The Telegraph. January 2013. 13 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213110627/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9792843/New-island-appears-off-coast-of-Germany.html. live.
  25. 255060. Kavachi.
  26. News: Blomstrandhalvøya er blitt en øy!. The Blomstrand peninsula has become an island!. 5. 7 January 2021. Svalbardposten. 5 July 1991. Norwegian. 26 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526000504/https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_svalbardposten_null_null_19910705_43_26_1?page=3. live.
  27. 257070. Kuwae.
  28. Web site: The Surtsey Research Society, The Surtsey Eruption 1963-1967 . 2018-03-28 . 2007-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070222054342/http://www.surtsey.is/pp_ens/gen_3.htm . live .
  29. 372010. Vestmannaeyjar.
  30. Web site: Baía dos Tigres. www.redeangola.info. 2017-09-27. 2021-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023203034/http://www.redeangola.info/roteiros/baia-dos-tigres/. live.
  31. 382010. Ilha Nova.
  32. 284070. Myojinsho.
  33. 282060. Kikai.
  34. 262000. Krakatau.
  35. 243050. Falcon Island.
  36. 267030. Banua Wuhu.

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