The beaches of Japan saw in August last year what could only be termed as nature’s cute fury. Millions of little pumice stones watched away at the beaches, traveling nearly a hundred miles from their place of origin. You see, a spectacular but deathly underwater volcano had caused this pumice raft in the Ogasawara island. Called the Fukutoku-Okanoba underwater volcano, the natural disaster had already affected a vast chunk of underwater life. The breathtaking sight of the stones covering the beaches of Southern Japan might possibly have been the strangest thing locals had ever seen!
But the stones kept floating… And moving. Needless to say, the Okinawa beaches were crowded with tourists and residents alike, all coming in herds to view the curious sight. How could a volcanic eruption a hundred miles away underwater cause our beaches to dunk in stones?, they seemed to ask.
Many tried to defy nature by swimming in what had already been covered by wrath and smooth rocks. But do you really think people could have swam in a sea of stones? While practically impossible, it sure seemed like it was worth a shot. When people emerged from their swimming expedition, they were covered in little smooth rocks!
However, as beautiful and breathtaking the sight might have been, dozens of beaches and shorelines saw the aftermath. The fishery and tourism industries were impacted, and so were little creatures like turtles and crabs. Coral reefs and underwater life could get neither as optimum amount of oxygen, nor sunlight. Therefore, committees were established and organizations came forward to clean up this beautiful mess. As of May, the peak of this pumice populace purge seems to have passed, but a large quantity of these stones still remain. If you want to see the strangest beach of the world with your own eyes, head to Japan, because the Okinawa beaches are sure to give you a run for your money.
If you, however, want to see nature’s response at its peak, you might want to head to the Late Island in the Pacific Ocean!
Loved learning about pumice raft? Check out deserts in bloom.
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