How a small island in Canada appeared, vanished, and was found again
Officials in British Columbia say the floating island drifted towards the shoreline of a local lake. But its origins remain a mystery.
A small, floating island emerged on Williston Reservoir, the largest freshwater lake in British Columbia, Canada, in early August. Initially, boaters captured the sight in a viral video that showed a forested patch bobbing in the water. Satellite images confirmed its existence, which measured around one-and-a-half American football fields. However, the island mysteriously vanished a few weeks later.
Bob Gammer, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, the government-owned utility maintaining the reservoir and a nearby dam, first learned about the island after seeing the viral video on Canadian social media. Initially, he thought the clip was AI-generated. Upon confirmation from satellite images, the island was found to be floating in the lake's remote northern part.
The island seemingly disappeared from satellite images in mid-August, sparking curiosity worldwide. Officials are unsure of its origin or disappearance. It is estimated to be 9,800 square meters, or roughly one hectare, the size of a Canadian football field. BC Hydro believes the island formed over years from accumulating driftwood, which supported plants and trees. They suspect it broke off from the shoreline due to rising water levels, which hadn't reached such heights since 2012.
While the island's stability is uncertain, Gammer advises against attempting to visit it. He warns that it is remote and could break apart. Local residents and the Lake Chippewa Flowage Resort Association, which manages a similar floating bog in Wisconsin, note that such islands often host diverse wildlife, including frogs and salamanders.
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