Mysterious islands that appear and disappear are called “phantom islands.”
This means that they have been removed from maps after a certain period of time, as it is eventually concluded that they probably never even existed in the first place, have been mislocated, mistaken for another island, or even vanished beneath the waves.
Here are some of them:
1. Sandy Island
Sandy Island was one such cartographic mirage, said to be located between Australia and New Caledonia. Supposedly discovered in 1876 by the French, Sandy Island was added to most modern maps, including Google maps.
Many expeditions in search of Sandy Island turned up empty-handed, and any attempt to locate it was fruitless. In 2012, a group of Australian scientists set out on a research voyage, hoping to prove the island’s existence.
They journeyed on the Australian vessel called the Southern Surveyor, equipped with modern technology like the GPS and advanced mapping tools. They ventured to the supposed location of Sandy Island, only to discover, to their total surprise and disappointment, that there was absolutely nothing there but open sea.
Their conclusion was that Sandy Island never existed.
2. Bermeja Island
Bermeja, also known as a phantom island, was seen on maps off the north coast of the Yucatán all the way until 1984. The mystery surrounding Bermeja began in the early 20th century when it was shown on maps and even featured in navigation charts. What’s interesting about this island is that a search for it by the Mexican government found nothing that could have been called an island. It had seemingly vanished.
It is most likely that the island was never there in the first place.
3. Ferdinandea Island (Graham Island)
Ferdinandea Island, also known as Graham Island first appeared in 1831 due to an underwater volcanic eruption. It was a rocky, desolate landmass, and European nations, Britain, France, Spain, and the then-independent kingdom of Sicily argued over ownership of an island. Unfortunately, within a few months, the island vanished, leaving their territorial disputes unresolved.
Ferdinandea Island resurfaced in 1863, but this time it didn’t last long. It once again disappeared beneath the waves, never to be seen again.
