Enormous floating pumice raft could help save the Great Barrier Reef

An underwater volcano near Tonga erupted on August 7th, creating a massive pumice raft in the Pacific Ocean. This raft, comparable in size to Manhattan, is drifting towards Fiji and may reach Australia in a year. As it travels, it carries marine life that could help restore the Great Barrier Reef.

What natural event occurred near Tonga on August 7th?

• A hurricane

• An earthquake

• An underwater volcano eruption

• A tsunami

How does the size of the pumice raft compare to a well-known location?

• It is roughly the size of Manhattan

• It is the size of the Sahara Desert

• It is larger than the Great Wall of China

• It is smaller than the Eiffel Tower

Which direction is the pumice raft currently drifting?

• South towards Antarctica

• North towards Japan

• East towards Hawaii

• West towards Fiji

What potential benefit does the pumice raft bring to marine ecosystems?

• It will increase ocean temperatures

• It could help restock the Great Barrier Reef

• It may introduce invasive species

• It can cause water pollution

What types of marine life might the pumice raft carry?

• Sharks and dolphins

• Corals and barnacles

• Whales and sea turtles

• Jellyfish and seaweed