Across history, islands have appeared on maps, recorded by explorers, only to vanish without a trace. Some were swallowed by rising tides, others erased by storms, and a few seem to have never existed at all—except in the memories of those who saw them. These lost islands hold stories of civilizations, shipwrecks, and strange disappearances that defy explanation. Whether buried beneath the waves or erased by time, their mysteries remain unsolved.
Bermeja: The Island That Vanished from Maps
Once charted by Spanish explorers in the Gulf of Mexico, Bermeja appeared on maps for centuries before mysteriously disappearing. Attempts to locate it in modern times have turned up nothing, fueling conspiracy theories that it was deliberately erased. Some believe shifting sea levels or underwater earthquakes caused its disappearance, while others suspect a more secretive cover-up. If it did exist, where did it go—and why was it wiped from history?
Isla San Brandán: A Phantom Island of Legends
Sailors in the Middle Ages told stories of a mysterious island that appeared and disappeared at will. Known as Isla San Brandán, it was described as a paradise, sometimes mistaken for land when ships docked—only for the island to sink beneath the waves. Some speculate it was a volcanic island that rose and fell, while others believe it was a mirage of another world. Whatever the truth, no trace of it remains.
The Sunken Kingdom of Lyonesse
Off the coast of England, the legend of Lyonesse speaks of a once-thriving land swallowed by the sea in a single night. Said to be home to Arthurian knights, its people were lost when the waves consumed their villages. Some divers claim to have seen ruins beneath the water, but no definitive proof has surfaced. Could Lyonesse have been real, or is it just another myth carried away by time?
Sarah Ann Island: Lost to the Depths
First recorded in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th century, Sarah Ann Island was claimed by the United States for its rich guano deposits. Yet when a later expedition returned to establish a settlement, the island was gone. Whether it was erased by a storm, a shifting seabed, or was never there at all remains a mystery. Its coordinates exist, but the land does not.
Hy-Brasil: The Irish Atlantis
For centuries, maps depicted an island west of Ireland called Hy-Brasil, often described as shrouded in mist and visible only once every seven years. Many sailors claimed to have visited, reporting an advanced civilization living there. Then, inexplicably, it vanished from all records. Was it a real place lost to the sea, a mirage, or something far stranger?
The Disappearance of Emerald Island
Sighted by multiple ships in the Southern Ocean, Emerald Island was believed to be a remote, uninhabited landmass. Yet when later expeditions attempted to find it, they discovered only open water. Some suspect icebergs were mistaken for land, while others wonder if the island was erased by an undersea volcanic eruption. Whatever the cause, its existence remains an enduring mystery.
Thule: The Island at the Edge of the World
The ancient Greeks wrote of Thule, a land at the frozen edge of the world where the sun barely set. Though once believed to be real, its exact location was never confirmed, and it eventually faded into legend. Some think it may have been Iceland or Greenland, while others suggest it was an island now buried beneath Arctic waters. Did Thule truly exist, or was it always a place beyond reach?
The Vanishing of Sandy Island
One of the most puzzling modern island disappearances, Sandy Island appeared on maps near Australia for over a century. Even Google Earth once depicted it—until a research vessel found nothing but open ocean. Some theories suggest it was an error in early cartography, while others believe it may have been an island that later submerged. Its sudden erasure remains unexplained.
New Moore Island: The Island That Came and Went
New Moore Island, located in the Bay of Bengal, was a disputed landmass between India and Bangladesh. Rising from the sea in the 1970s, it was the focus of territorial claims—until it vanished entirely in the 2000s. Rising sea levels or erosion may have been to blame, but its short-lived existence raises questions about how many islands have come and gone without a trace.
The Ghostly Land of Buss Island
Discovered in the North Atlantic in the 16th century, Buss Island was once thought to be a large landmass suitable for settlement. Yet when later explorers searched for it, they found nothing but waves. Some believe it was an illusion caused by icebergs, while others suspect it was a real island that sank into the ocean. If so, where did it go?
The Sunken Mystery of J.C. Bank
J.C. Bank was once listed as a submerged island in the Indian Ocean, noted on nautical charts. Yet, as modern mapping technology improved, the island disappeared. Some suggest it was a misinterpretation of underwater ridges, while others think it may have once been above water before slowly vanishing beneath the waves.
Ravenser Odd: England’s Lost Coastal Town
Once a thriving port town on the English coast, Ravenser Odd was slowly eroded by the sea until it completely vanished in the 14th century. Unlike other islands lost to legend, historical records confirm its existence and its ultimate destruction. Today, only the shifting tides remember where it once stood.
The Uncharted Isle of Podesta
First reported by an Italian explorer in the 1870s, Podesta Island was thought to lie off the coast of Chile. However, all later attempts to find it failed. Whether it was a sailor’s mirage, a temporary landmass, or an island that truly disappeared, no trace of it has ever been found.
When the Ocean Forgets
The sea has always been a keeper of secrets, swallowing islands and reshaping coastlines over time. Some vanished due to shifting tides, while others remain unexplained, leaving behind only rumors and scattered records. But if islands can disappear so easily, what else might have been lost beneath the waves? Perhaps some places were never meant to be remembered.
