The Creation of Tinian Island

Just another update...we were both right! I had assumed that these islands were created by underwater volcanoes, like Hawaii. I was corrected, and told that these islands are coral islands, and even quoted a local brochure to confirm what a reader had told me. After further research, it seems as though we were both right: The island was created by an underwater volcano. Then, over the years, coral formed on top of the dead volcano. At some point in time, the water receded, or the land was pushed further up to expose it.

In reading about Tinian in a book by Don Farrell--a local writer-- he states:

"One by one, other underwater volcanoes appeared. As the temperature of the earth's atmosphere changed...sea levels changed...some islands were covered with water only temporarily, during which time they were coated with thick deposits of coral. When the atmosphere cooled...the reappearing islands then displayed the flat limestone plateaus seen today...Ultimately, a 500-mile-long chain of fifteen islands was created. These islands appeared along the edge of the Philippine plate some 60 to 100miles west of the deepest known valley in the world's oceans, the Mariana Trench."

I guess this explains the large flat ledges that seem to surround the island. There are few access points for ships to come into the island, as these ledges seem to extend out into the ocean for quite a ways. As I mention in previous blogs, Terri and I could snorkel out into the ocean two or three blocks, in some locations, and still be just 2'-3' above the ocean floor. Then, at some point, the shelf abruptly ends and the ocean floor drops dramatically.

It looks as though we have a lead on another scooter, so we hope than by the end of this week we will be able to begin exploring the far reaches of the island!