This post is a little bit different from our normal content here at Unofficial Networks, but as a nerdy history major, I simply couldn’t resist sharing this fascinating story with all of you.
Japan has seen multiple volcanos erupt over the last few months. An underwater volcano called Fukutoku-Okanoba erupted back in August, and a nearby volcano called Nishinoshima erupted just days later.
The erupted volcanos are located in a chain of volcanic islands that include Iwo Jima, famous for being the location of a pivotal battle between US Marines and Japanese soldiers during WWII.
Iwo Jima, now known as Iwo To in Japan, has actually started to rise further out of the ocean due to the volcanic eruptions. This has caused old ghostly-looking ship hulls to rise out of the waters.
The ships are actually made of concrete, a material used for ship building during steel shortages in WWI, and were sunk following WWII to create a breakwater for the island. The goal was to make it easier to get supplies to shore, but it ultimately failed.
The ships have been seen before during low tide events, but the current volcanic eruptions are pushing them even further above the surface. Incredible!
Check out this helicopter footage from a Japanese broadcast of the ships dotting the shores of Iwo To. Amazing to think that these vessels actually traveled the seas 80 years ago!