Yesterday there was an Earthquake in southern Pakistan, at the coast, about a few 100 miles away from where I am - Of magnitude 7.8! Anyway, the amazing thing about this Earthquake is that is created a new island - Where nothing existed before! News: http://dawn.com/news/1045332/gwadars-qu ... st-experts Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoeCCRaT38s Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHa0wGH4EA Anyway, I am now off to see my property broker - To find out if there will be any possibility of buying a portion of that Island!
That is intersting. I remember a volcanic eruption back when I was a kid that made a new island, in the north Atlantic I think. A lot of natural processes that they claim take "millions of years" actually happened in just a few short weeks, and they got to watch it.
Surtsey formed off the south coast of Iceland due to volcanic activity in the 1960's. The island about 2.7 square kilometers was closely monitored by scientists. It was exciting when a picture was taken of the first plant. Today erosion has reduced the island to half its largest size. Plate tectonics is an interesting but slow process. It would be nice to just have the earth slide around minus the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Jerry
Well, this time there wasn't a tsunami. But that area is very thinly populated, so hardly any eyewitnesses, (and also why reports take so long to come)... Karachi city where I am (with over 20 million people dwelling in it) is a different story - But Gwadar area at the other end of our coastline is totally another situation. However our Navy and Coast Guards do maintain a very strong presence there. But up till now they too have not said anything about a tsunami - Probably because this island emerged out of the ocean over a period of a few hours. Of course, had this been in a matter of a few seconds, then for sure there should have been a tsunami to remember! I however have some historic records of this coastline of ours. Please see these pictures below, as they are the scanned pages of the Gwadar city master plan. In this they say that in 1945 there was an Earthquake of 8.3 magnitude on the richter scale. Local inhabitants back then reported that the entire coastline rose about 5 meters! And a tsunami of about 15 meters in height destroyed the coastal towns of Pasni and Ormara (where today our Navy's submarine fleet is stationed). The historic report also states that an unusual event which took place was the sudden emergence of 4 new islands. 2 near Pasni and Ormara, and 1 near the town of Hinglaj, and one near Gwadar. Of these the one at Gwadar rose 15 meters above sea level, however there is now very little trace of it left - As it eroded away naturally. But I personally think that this Earthquake has made that same island come up again! Gwadar city master plan 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gwadar city master plan 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gwadar city master plan 3 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
S-H, that very well could be the same island. Perhaps it appears and disappears with various earthquakes ? It would be an interesting study for scientists or anyone.
Yes, I too suspect it to be the same island of 1945 that's come up again. This strange phenomena occurred 3 years ago too, in a different place on our coast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QXIk89TRFk So yes, a damn interesting time for researchers from all over Pakistan to study this occurrence. The Navy has already started mapping it, even from below the waterline. However it still remains to be determined if this island too will erode away - Or will it stay this time? Personally, I wish that it stays! As on the entire 700 miles of our coastline, we have only 3 to 4 islands which are solid rock... So more are always welcome! I think I should give a call to our Atomic Energy Commision - As ever since I saw this movie in my childhood, I've been dreaming for something like this to happen! Crack In The World (movie)! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4bnmNfuEa8
Well, I'd advise not planning to live there! The so-called island is not a fixed structure but a body of mud that will be broken down by wave activity and dispersed over time, the scientist said.
Now they are saying that 2 more islands have come up from the sea in that area - Thus totaling the number to 3 new islands on our coastline! http://www.dawn.com/news/1045503/anothe ... -off-coast Yes, they too are mainly composed of sea sediment (mud) - So they will naturally erode away with the passage of time. But it's still fun to know about it!