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🇬🇷 Greece /Environment & Climate

Canada’s “ghost island” appeared, vanished and moved 30 kilometers

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A floating mass of trees and vegetation was recorded in British Columbia’s Williston Reservoir and later found about 30 kilometers away.
  • Satellite imagery placed its area at roughly 9,800 square meters, or almost one hectare.
  • BC Hydro believes rising water levels may have detached a long-established mass of logs, roots, soil and vegetation from the shoreline.

A patch of land covered with trees and dense vegetation is floating in British Columbia’s Williston Reservoir, and it appears to have traveled about 30 kilometers from where it was first seen.

People on a boat filmed the unusual sight in early August, and the images quickly went viral. A satellite image from July 21 had already confirmed that the mass existed. It covers an estimated 9,800 square meters, nearly one hectare.

Bob Gammer, a representative of BC Hydro, the state-owned company that manages the reservoir and a nearby dam, first learned about the floating “island” through social media. “I thought it could be anywhere. Maybe it wasn’t real,” he told the BBC. His team later examined satellite images and confirmed that the mass was in the middle of the reservoir, in a remote part of northern British Columbia.

A new satellite image from Aug. 5 showed that the island was no longer in its original location. Authorities did not know whether it had sunk or drifted elsewhere. BC Hydro eventually found it near the shore, about 30 kilometers away. Satellite imagery and reports from people flying over the area confirmed its new position.

BC Hydro believes the mass may have formed after logs and other wood accumulated along the shoreline over many years. Plants and trees grew on top, creating a solid structure of wood, roots, soil and vegetation. The company said the reservoir’s water level reached its highest point since 2012 this year, possibly loosening the mass from the shore and allowing it to float.

I thought it could be anywhere. Maybe it wasn’t real.

· Bob GammerThe BC Hydro representative recalled his initial reaction after seeing the floating island on social media.
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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