This photo in itself doesn't seem terribly exciting, but the story attached to it is, in my opinion, quite interesting.
Last week while I was walking along Fingal Beach taking photos during our terrific stormy weather I spotted lots of pumice washed up on the beach. I brought a few pieces home with me and when I showed them to David he looked on the Internet to see if he could find where it came from.
He discovered that during August 2019 an underwater volcano erupted off the coast of Tonga and since then a mass of pumice 150 square kilometres in diameter has been drifting towards Australia.
The following clip was posted on YouTube last September and since then the pumice has has been floating down the east coast of Australia.
The underwater volcano erupted 50 kilometres northwest of the Tongan island of Vava'u is simply known as 'Volcano F'
Thanks so much for putting yesterday's Help! photo on the TP and the PP. It is my birthday today so what a lovely surprise when I got up this morning to see it on the PP.
We are going out to a friend's house for dinner tonight so won't be able to catch up until tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Babs, hope you have a wonderful evening out and your friends spoil you! Lovely shot of your beach findings and very interesting info. Amazing what happened and how far it came :-)
Well, firstly a very happy birthday to you! I loved the story of the pumice - how very interesting. I hope you've been using them in the bath to ensure your feet are in pristine condition! I can't bear the feel of pumice stone on my feet, it's just too tickly. I wonder if people actually still do that?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, gorgeous lady!
And I absolutely love your story here. I was wondering where you were going to have found a volcano to produce that - fabulous tale.
Oh my, Happy Birthday Babs. One of my daughters turns 60 today, and a grandson 28. What a day. As we are in strict lockdown, Elise will have great stories about the on line love going her way.
Love your post and the story.
Happy Birthday Babs - another year , but who's counting - ha ! have great day and a lovely evening with your friends . Amazing how this light and porous stone has floated its way to Australia ! Brings back memories of childhood and the pumice stone to rub the hard skin off the feet !
Happy Birthday! Love the story about the origin of the pumice. I always think of pumice as helping to get my hands very clean as they put ground pumice in some industrial soaps. I'll bet your hands were clean after handling these. ;-)
@jamibann Not fond of it but when the skin on my heels start to crack and get painful, I take the plunge and use it in the bath. The water helps reduce the tickle!!
Lovely clear capture of these pumice stones that really stand out on the black background. A very interesting narrative to complement your picture. A happy birthday to you and may you have a wonderful day.
I love pumice stone, I’m always surprised how very light it is...loads of it in NZ! Nearly missed seeing it was your birthday Babs! A very happy birthday....have a wonderful evening! Much love Xxxxx💐🎈🎂
@julzmaioro@happypat Maybe the pumice from Tonga has floated down to New Zealand, could be on the same ocean current. I don't know if White Island in New Zealand spits out pumice, so if it does maybe the pumice on New Zealand beaches comes from there.
Cool story about the pumice- my grandson is becoming very interested in rocks at the moment. He would love this story- and these rocks!
Happy Belated birthday greetings- I'm glad the day turned as lovely as you'd hoped! Wishing you a year full of great shots and friends to share them with.
And I absolutely love your story here. I was wondering where you were going to have found a volcano to produce that - fabulous tale.
Love your post and the story.
Have a very happy birthday.. 🎂
This is an interesting story indeed, your feet will be looking good with that lot!
Wishing you a BIG happy birthday, have a lovely day 🎉🎂🍷
Hope you're having the BEST birthday!
Very interesting to read about the pumice stone, you'll have no problem getting smooth feet now!
Happy Birthday, Babs!
Those stones we use in former day`s by painting a subject in the first paint.
Great discovery!
Glad you found the story of the pumice interesting. I went back to Fingal yesterday and very little pumice there now. Maybe it has either floated off somewhere else or locals have picked it off the beach. I guess if that is the case there will be lots of smooth legs and feet in Port Stephens now, ha ha.
I have pumice in the bathroom and use it when my legs get dry and I have hard skin on my heels.
@julzmaioro @happypat Maybe the pumice from Tonga has floated down to New Zealand, could be on the same ocean current. I don't know if White Island in New Zealand spits out pumice, so if it does maybe the pumice on New Zealand beaches comes from there.
Happiest of Birthdays! Hope it’s a fun one!
Happy Belated birthday greetings- I'm glad the day turned as lovely as you'd hoped! Wishing you a year full of great shots and friends to share them with.