Uncovering the Hidden Gems: The Captivating Tale of Zabargad Island

There are certain places on Earth that are not only stunningly beautiful but also hold valuable treasures and fascinating geological stories. From a tiny island in the middle of the Red Sea to a newborn landmass in Japan, and a migration of millions of red crabs in Australia, these are just a few examples of the wonders of our planet.

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Zabargad, also known as St. John's Island, is a small island surrounded by the crystal-clear Red Sea. It consists mostly of peridot, a gemstone that has the nickname "the evening emerald" because of its sparkling green hue. According to some historians, Cleopatra herself loved peridot, and geologists believe it forms as a result of the spreading of the seafloor. Rocks from deep down get pushed up to the surface, and that's exactly how Treasure Island formed. Zabargad is geologically unique as it's an Island built of uplifted mantle and is also the oldest and longest known source of peridot in the world. The first people came to Zabargad for the gemstones many centuries ago.

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Pirates discovered the island's treasures in the year 500 BCE, and the beautiful green rocks made their way to Queen Bernice of the Roman Empire. They came from the ancient trading port of Berenice on the edge of Egypt's Eastern desert. In the 19th century, British explorers found the beautiful green island in the Red Sea and figured out it was the one described by Pliny the Elder a long time ago. Turkey did some mining here in the 20th century, and over just four years, they managed to collect over $2 million in peridots. Today, the island belongs to the Elba National Park system, and most people come here to see the underwater beauties of the reefs. But if you look above the water, you can still see some beautiful sparkling peridots.

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If Christmas Island in Australia is on your travel list, plan the trip wisely. If you end up there in October or November when the wet season begins, you won't be able to enjoy a walk around. Red crabs cover the whole island like a blanket, and it's not one of those fluffy blankets you'd want to wrap yourself into. Over 100 million crabs are on a mission to reach the shore alive, marking a crucial phase in their life cycle. For the majority of the year, these red crabs reside in burrows and rock crevices. They have fruit, berries, fallen leaves, and various organic matter to keep them going, but when the dry season is over, and the moon is in a specific phase, they know it's time to go. When they reach the coast of the Indian Ocean after several days of migration, they create deep burrows where females will eventually hatch their eggs. Once the burrows are ready, the male crabs return to the rainforests, and the females stay at the beach for at least 12 days to keep the family going. The new parents are so smart; they follow the moon to pick the perfect moment with a milder tide to carry their eggs to the water. Once they hatch, the crabs bring their new family members back inland, where they wait for the rainy season again to keep the circle of life going. To safeguard this magic, authorities close roads in areas where crab migration takes place.

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Japan has a brand new addition to its archipelago, the world's newest landmass, which literally popped up in November 2023. This unnamed island is just over 300 ft in diameter, made of pumice and tuff left by an underwater volcano that kicked off its eruptions in October. The volcanic hustle has quieted down since then, and the waves are eroding chunks of the newly found land. Without lava flows to create a sturdy protective crust over the soft volcanic debris, the future of this freshly formed island is unstable. Similar islands had popped up before but were short-lived and vanished once volcanic activity ceased. An island born in 2021 in the same way is still visible today, though, so the newborn island might have some life prospects. If not, we're likely to see more territories like this. Japan is super rich in active volcanoes on land, with over 100 in its collection. In conclusion, these fascinating stories of treasure islands, newly-formed landmasses, and red crab migrations are just a fraction of the wonders of our planet. It's incredible to think about the geological processes that have formed these natural treasures over thousands or even millions of years. These places remind us of how much we still have to learn from our planet and how essential it is to protect it.