the extra stretch of coastline on shiretoko has risen as high as 50ft from the sea surface in some places , exposing what used to be the ocean floor .
geologists believe the emergence is a result of a landslide nearby , when melting ice and snow caused a section of land to drop , pivoting the underwater area into the air .
authorities have not been able to determine exactly when the landslide hit the snow-covered coastline , but they do not expect it to expand further .