A phenomena of Mother Earth Tonga

A phenomena of Mother Nature : 

A phenomena of Mother Nature The following slides shows a remarkable occurrence by the by the mother nature, witnessed and photographed by a privileged few.

In November 2006, the yacht 'Maiken' was traveling in the South Pacific when they came across a weird sight - It was sand in the water, and the sand was floating ON TOP of the waves.. : 

In November 2006, the yacht 'Maiken' was traveling in the South Pacific when they came across a weird sight - It was sand in the water, and the sand was floating ON TOP of the waves..

Another photograph of the sand floating in the water : 

Another photograph of the sand floating in the water

This is not a beach; Sand floating on the water. : 

This is not a beach; Sand floating on the water.

The trail left by the yacht..through the sand : 

The trail left by the yacht..through the sand

The trail left by the yacht..through the sand : 

The trail left by the yacht..through the sand

And then this was spotted... Ash and steam rising from the ocean... : 

And then this was spotted... Ash and steam rising from the ocean...

And, while they were watching... : 

And, while they were watching...

And, while they were watching...... : 

And, while they were watching......

Slide 10: 

A brand new island formed...

Another photograph of the Island…… : 

Another photograph of the Island……

A plume of black ash... : 

A plume of black ash...

Tonga volcanic eruption seen by yacht crew on 08 Nov 2006, 18:07 Can you imagine the thrill of being the first & only people to see a new island being created , seemingly from nowhere? : 

Tonga volcanic eruption seen by yacht crew on 08 Nov 2006, 18:07 Can you imagine the thrill of being the first & only people to see a new island being created , seemingly from nowhere? Mother Nature in all her amazing splendor!!! An awesome sight to behold...

The Kingdom of Tonga (pronounced /t???/) in the south Pacific Ocean is an archipelago of 171 islands, 48 of them inhabited, stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles) in a north-south line. The islands lie south of Samoa, about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii. : 

The Kingdom of Tonga (pronounced /t???/) in the south Pacific Ocean is an archipelago of 171 islands, 48 of them inhabited, stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles) in a north-south line. The islands lie south of Samoa, about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii.

The Tonga archipelago is prone to earthquake and under water Volcanic eruption. Almost every year i.e. 2006, 2007, 2009 there is an earthquake . The recent one being on 19th March 2009. The 2009 Tonga earthquake was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Tonga on March 19, 2009 UTC. It occurred at 18:17:41 UTC and had a depth of around 34 kilometres (21 mi). A tsunami warning was issued in the aftermath of the earthquake, although this was later cancelled. It was followed a short while later by an aftershock earthquake that had a magnitude of 5.3. Two more aftershocks followed on March 20 (UTC), with magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.0 Mw, then another magnitude 5.0 aftershock on March 21, totaling four aftershocks above magnitude 5. The quake occurred approximately 220 kilometers (140 mi) to the southeast of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, and initial reports suggest that there have been no injuries or significant damage. The earthquake was felt as far away as New Zealand's North Island, over 3,000 kilometers (1,900 mi) away : 

The Tonga archipelago is prone to earthquake and under water Volcanic eruption. Almost every year i.e. 2006, 2007, 2009 there is an earthquake . The recent one being on 19th March 2009. The 2009 Tonga earthquake was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Tonga on March 19, 2009 UTC. It occurred at 18:17:41 UTC and had a depth of around 34 kilometres (21 mi). A tsunami warning was issued in the aftermath of the earthquake, although this was later cancelled. It was followed a short while later by an aftershock earthquake that had a magnitude of 5.3. Two more aftershocks followed on March 20 (UTC), with magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.0 Mw, then another magnitude 5.0 aftershock on March 21, totaling four aftershocks above magnitude 5. The quake occurred approximately 220 kilometers (140 mi) to the southeast of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, and initial reports suggest that there have been no injuries or significant damage. The earthquake was felt as far away as New Zealand's North Island, over 3,000 kilometers (1,900 mi) away

The earthquake occurred four days after the beginning of a major undersea volcanic eruption near to Hunga Tonga. As of yet there has been no confirmation of a direct link between the volcanic eruption and earthquake, but Ken Hudnut, a geophysicist for the United States Geological Survey, stated that "it seems suggestive at this point" Keleti Mafi, the Tongan government's chief seismologist, has suggested that the earthquake is likely to have a direct impact on the volcanic eruption, stating that the "strength of the earthquake could crack the volcano's (undersea) vent and allow more magma to be ejected : 

The earthquake occurred four days after the beginning of a major undersea volcanic eruption near to Hunga Tonga. As of yet there has been no confirmation of a direct link between the volcanic eruption and earthquake, but Ken Hudnut, a geophysicist for the United States Geological Survey, stated that "it seems suggestive at this point" Keleti Mafi, the Tongan government's chief seismologist, has suggested that the earthquake is likely to have a direct impact on the volcanic eruption, stating that the "strength of the earthquake could crack the volcano's (undersea) vent and allow more magma to be ejected