Rock Raft Off New Zealand

New Zealand naval forces discovered a large floating mass about a thousand miles off the coast.

When they investigated they found it to be a vast "raft" of pumice that had been released by an underwater volcano.

The rocks are piled up, in places more than two feet, just floating along the water.

Their bright white color almost makes them appear to be an ice shelf.

Mt. Monowai, an underwater volcano north of New Zealand, is thought to be the source of the rocks.

They were formed when lava reached the salty seawater, and have a lesser density than the water, which allows them to float.

The buoyant rocks have already managed to spread out to cover a ten thousand square mile area of the Pacific Ocean.

Shipping is being made aware of the "raft" and attempts are being made to avoid it, as a precaution.