From Japan to Germany, the world's newest islands revealed

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Hunga Ha'apai, Tonga 

For more than a month an underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean spewed ash and magma to the surface, and high into the air. This build-up created a new island, just off the coast of Tonga, in a region known as the Ring of Fire

• Yaya, discovered in 2013, is a sandy islet in Russia measuring around 1,213 feet long and 410 feet wide
• Four years ago, a volcanic eruption took place in the Pacific Ocean, which gave birth to an island off Japan
• Islands dubbed Sholan and Jadid were born in the Zubair Archipelago in 2011 and 2013 respectively

These newly-formed islands emerging from plumes of smoke and bubbling magma reveal how the earth's surface is constantly changing. 

Over the past decade, several significant land masses have been confirmed, most recently a sandbar off the coast of North Carolina nicknamed Shelly Island.  

Scroll down for some of the newest places making their marks on the map, with many more set to be discovered...

For more than a month in 2015 an underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean spewed ash and magma to the surface, and high into the air.

A number of international flights were cancelled amid concerns about the volcano's ash plume but they later resumed. 

The dramatic build-up created a new island, just off the coast of Tonga, in a region known as the Ring of Fire. The island, called Hunga Tonga, was found to be around 0.6 miles wide and composed mostly of ash.

But geologists said at the time the new island was not expected to last long due to its weak structure.

Jadid Island and Sholan Island, Yemen

Geologists gained an unprecedented insight into Earth's crust after two volcanic islands emerged in the Red Sea. The islands, dubbed Sholan and Jadid, were born in the Zubair Archipelago between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in 2011 and 2013 respectively (above, Jadid is pinpointed on the map)

Scientists claimed the tectonic activity that formed these islands could reveal a previously unrecognised volcanically active zone in the region (pictured above, the newly formed island of Sholan)

Geologists gained an unprecedented insight into Earth's crust after two volcanic islands emerged in the Red Sea.

The islands, dubbed Sholan and Jadid, were born in the Zubair Archipelago between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

Scientists claimed the tectonic activity that formed these islands could reveal a previously unrecognised volcanically active zone in the region. 

The formation of volcanic islands along mid-ocean ridge systems is still not well understood, the researchers added. 

Beneath the Red Sea is a huge crack in the Earth's crust, known as a rift, where the African and Arabian tectonic plates are moving apart at the rate of around 0.4 inches per year. Sometimes, however, the rift moves apart suddenly – and geologists believe the volcanoes may have been the product of one of these events. 

Nishinoshima, Japan

Four years ago, a volcanic eruption took place in the Pacific Ocean, which gave birth to a small island off the coast of Japan. The tiny islet first surfaced in November 2013, next to the island of Nishinoshima, and kept growing until the two merged into one

Four years ago a volcanic eruption took place in the Pacific Ocean, which gave birth to a small island off the coast of Japan.

The tiny islet first surfaced in November 2013 next to the island of Nishinoshima, and it kept growing until the two merged into one.

In 2015, the Japanese Coast Guard revealed the volcanic island had grown to 12 times its initial size.

At the time, the new Nishinoshima was found to measure 6,233ft east to west, about 6,397ft north to south and more than 300ft in height, the Japanese Coast Guard told Japan Today.

Yaya Island, Russia

Yaya is a sandy islet in Russia, in the freezing waters of the Laptev Sea. Its length is about 1,213 feet and it's 410 feet wide. The new island was discovered in 2013 after a helicopter flew over the land mass

Yaya is a sandy islet located in the freezing waters of the Laptev Sea in Russia.

It measures around 1,213 feet long and 410 feet wide.

The new island was discovered in 2013 after a helicopter flew over the land mass.

A year later, the research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky explored the island and officially confirmed its existence.  

Drilling showed that the island constituted mainly sand. Despite its small size, scientists said the island will likely exist for many years to come.

Zalzala Koh, Pakistan

Satellite images of the mysterious island that rose up from the sea in 2013 week reveal that it is round, with cracks and remarkably flat, similar to a 'mud pie'

Satellite images of the mysterious island that rose up from the sea in 2013 reveal that it is round, with cracks and remarkably flat, similar to a 'mud pie'.

The island, named Zalzala Koh, emerged after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck 145 miles southeast of Dalbandin in Pakistan's quake-prone province of Baluchistan.

It has become an attraction for tourists and locals who have visited the area despite toxic, flammable gas being emitted from its cracks. The surface is covered in sea creatures such as dead fish and is a mixture of mud, sand and rock. 

The life of this island is likely to be short, according to Nasa. The underground pocket of gas will cool, compress, or escape over time, allowing the crust to collapse and settle back down. Waves, storms, and tidal action from the Arabian Sea will also wash away the loose sand, soft clay, and mud.  

Bird Island, Germany  

An island the size of 25 football pitches appeared seemingly out of nowhere off the coast of Germany in 2013. The landmass, which is composed of sandbanks, gradually emerged from the violent waters of the North Sea over several years

An island the size of 25 football pitches appeared seemingly out of nowhere off the coast of Germany in 2013.

The landmass, which is composed of sandbanks, gradually emerged from the violent waters of the North Sea over several years.

It lies 15 miles off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany’s far north in a stretch of coastline known as the Wattenmeer, a marine national park. 

Nature lovers and yachstmen noticed the appearance of Bird Island - named after the seabirds who rest, nest or feed on the sand dunes that are up to 16 feet high.

Winds blew seeds from across Europe, and 49 species of plants were detected on it. It was said to be the first time in a quarter of a century that a discernible landmass had appeared in the coastal waters off Germany. 

Home Reef, Tonga

Home Reef is an ephemeral island - one that forms, erodes, and re-forms and erodes again - built by an underwater volcano. The island was first seen by the crew of a yacht, who recorded its emergence in their blog

Home Reef is an ephemeral island - one that forms, erodes, and re-forms and erodes again - built by an underwater volcano. 

It is in the South Pacific, south of Late Island and southwest of Vava'u along the Tofua volcanic arc in Tonga.

Home Reef temporarily rose above sea level in island-building eruptions in 1852, 1857, 1984, and 2006.

After a volcanic eruption started in August 2006, Home Reef emerged as an island. Several months later it had reached almost the same size as it did in 1984 when it was about 0.5km by 1.5km.

The island was first seen by the crew of a yacht, who recorded its emergence in their blog.

Kavachi, Solomon Islands

Kavachi is what's known as a shallow submarine volcano off the coast of Vangunu Island. It is one of the most active submarine volcanoes in the Pacific and also has the name Rejo te Kvachi, which means Kavachi's Oven

Kavachi is what's known as a shallow submarine volcano off the coast of Vangunu Island.

It is one of the most active submarine volcanoes in the Pacific and also has the name Rejo te Kvachi, which means Kavachi's Oven.

The first reports of its activity were recorded in 1939. There have been at least 11 significant eruptions since the late 1970s, and two - in 1976 and 1991 - were so powerful they created new islands.

However, these islands were not large enough to resist being eroded and ultimately became submerged. The frequent shallow submarine eruptions that sometimes breach the surface produce surtseyan activity, magma-water explosions that eject jets of steam and ash above the surface.

A few years ago scientists found that such underwater volcanoes, which were long assumed to ooze lava at relatively steady rates, in fact erupt in pulses.

Metis Shoal, Tonga

Metis Shoal is a landmass located at the top of an underwater volcano, located between the islands of Kao and Late in Tonga. The volcano was first noticed to have risen above the ocean's surface in 1851

Metis Shoal is a landmass located at the top of an underwater volcano, located between the islands of Kao and Late in Tonga. 

The volcano was first noticed to have risen above the ocean's surface in 1851, but ocean currents quickly eroded the new island down.

Most recently the volcano erupted in 1995 forming a 141ft high island, composed of a solid lava dome above the surface. A plane flew over the location in 2006 and an island was still present. 

LAND AHOY! THE WORLD'S NEWEST ISLAND APPEARS OFF THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA

Underscoring the earth's ever-changing face, a new island has been spotted off the coast of North Carolina.

The crescent-shaped landmass off the tip of Cape Point in Buxton started surfacing in spring and now it measures around one-mile long and more than 400 feet wide.

Locals have dubbed the sandbar Shelly Island, because of the vast quantities of shells littering its shores. 

Underscoring the earth's ever-changing face, a new island has been spotted off the coast of North Carolina. The crescent-shaped landmass off the tip of Cape Point in Buxton started surfacing in spring and now it measures around one-mile long and more than 400 feet wide

Janice Regan, who lives nearby, told the Virginian Pilot that it was actually her grandson who came up with the apt moniker.

She added that the island was just a 'little bump' in April. 

Aerial drone photos taken by Instagrammer Chad Koczera via @chadonka, show how the island now covers a sizeable patch.

Shell hunters, sunbathers, anglers and photographers have apparently been flocking to the new spot. 

Shell hunters, sunbathers, anglers and photographers have apparently been flocking to the new spot

Changing landscape: A map shows where the new island has formed close to the mainland 

Kayakers have also been eager to circumnavigate it. However, coastguards are warning visitors to be wary.

Dave Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore which oversees the Cape Point area, said people shouldn't attempt to walk or swim to the new island despite the temptation.

He says it's likely that discarded fishing hooks are lurking in the sands as it's a popular spot with anglers.

Meanwhile, Bill Smith, president of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, says that five-foot-long sharks and stingrays 'as large as the hood of a truck' have been spotted surfing in the shallows.

The sandbar was formed through a combination of strong currents and storms. 

Experts say its shape will continue to evolve and it could be gone by next year or grow to connect to the mainland.