The horseshoe-shaped island erupted 4,000 years ago

The intense eruption caused Deception volcano to collapse into flooded pans, even boats that could run straight inside.

Thousands of years ago, a volcano in the Southern Ocean erupted into the sky with large amounts of rubble and magma, about 30-60km ³ . This is the largest eruption in the area around Antarctica in 12,000 years.

Satellite image of Deception Island in March 2018.(Photo: NASA).

When the magma chamber is empty, the pressure inside the volcano suddenly drops, causing the peak to collapse and form a hollow of a pan. The pan of the pan is 8-10km in diameter. The collapse of such scale was large enough to cause a series of strong earthquakes, the researchers said. This process gives the island a unique horseshoe shape.

In 1820, when approaching the island, explorer Nathaniel Palmer named it Deception because of its confusing shape. From an angle, the island seems very ordinary. But to another corner, a narrow passage leading to the port (flooded basin) will be exposed.

Deception is one of two volcanoes near Antarctica that are still active. It has erupted more than 20 times since the 19th century. The latest eruptions occurred in the period 1967-1970, while new seismic activities took place in 2014-2015. This is one of the rare places in the world where boats can directly run in the middle of an active volcano.

Despite volcanic eruptions many times, the Port of Foster on the island is considered one of the safest ports in Antarctica because there are no large glaciers. Entering the 19th century, fishermen began to visit the island to hunt seals. In the early 20th century, when seals were threatened to extinction, seafarers turned to whaling in Whalers Bay east of Foster Harbor.

Today, there are many scientific research stations on the island, although some have been erased by previous volcanic activities. It is also a tourist attraction with beautiful beaches, hot pools and crowds of penguins.