The Japanese coast guard proudly announced the newest addition to its country: a 660-foot island born from an offshore volcano eruption.
Located about 620 miles south of Tokyo in the Pacific, the new land mass joins the Ogasawara chain, a group of 30-some islands that were also formed from volcanoes. However, this is the first time an eruption has occurred since the mid-1970s.
The island has yet to be given a name -- government officials are trying not to get too excited about the possible new addition to their territory. "This has happened before and in some cases the islands disappeared," Japan's chief government spokesman told the Associated Press. If it sticks around, it can help give them an edge in territorial disputes with South Korea and China.
Check out more photos from the dramatic eruption:
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