Report: Arizona-sized volcano located in Pacific Ocean
Sep 6, 2013, 2:13 PM | Updated: 2:41 pm
PHOENIX — A volcano reportedly the size of Arizona was found 1,000 miles off the coast in Japan in the Pacific Ocean.
According to Newser, the volcano, Tamu Massif, is Earth’s largest volcano and one of the largest volcanic structures in the solar system.
Tamu Massif was originally believed to be a system of smaller volcanoes, but that was later disproved.
“We saw what appear to be lava flows going out from the center of the volcano in all directions, with no obvious large secondary source of volcanism,” says lead author William Sager—meaning this is “one huge volcano.”
The volcano lies 6,500 feet below the surface of the ocean and has been inactive for about 145 million years.
Scientists believe larger volcanoes may exist under the sea.