If you were ever planning a nice little day swim across the Tasman from New Zealand to Australia it just got shorter…by about one stroke.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Fiordland a week ago apparently twisted the southern island so far out of shape that it actually moved about one foot closer to Australia, says a New Zealand news source. Every year, the island drifts about one-third of an inch westward, but this is giving it about a thirty-six year boost. The earthquake was the biggest in New Zealand after eighty years.
No, it probably won’t make your inter-island travels any cheaper, but at least the South Pacific just got a foot cozier.
Here’s the video from the quake:
Feature photo: Stormy Dog
Jason Wire
Jason Wire graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and spent the year after writing and teaching English in Spain. He's back in the states now, but doesn't know where. Follow him @wirejr.
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