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Volcanic Island Growing Off the Coast of Japan

Japan has acquired some new real estate - well, kind of.

The Villarica volcano in chile that we just showed you is located within the Ring of Fire. And so is Japan's newest island.

The Ring of Fire, which is shaped more like a horseshoe, is an area where a large number of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. It stretches from the southern tip of South America all the way to New Zealand. Nearly 75 percent of all active volcanoes and roughly 90 percent of all earthquakes occur in the Ring of Fire.

A remote volcanic island in Japan first broke above the Pacific Ocean in 2013, but has grown so much it's now connected to the neighboring island of Nishino Shima.

This video released by the Japanese coast guard shows the crater spewing volcanic rock five to six times per minute!

When it first appeared above the water, the outline of the island resembled the cartoon character, Snoopy, prompting many internet users to dub it 'Snoopy Island.

It's since grown - 11 times it's original size!

stephanie.jarvis@ideastream.org | 216-916-6340