This is like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean (before it became a bloated, overdone IP franchise):
A mysterious island appeared in the Caspian Sea in 2023 due to a mud volcano eruption and vanished by the following year, fascinating scientists with its transient nature.
In early 2023, a mud volcano eruption in the Caspian Sea gave rise to a temporary island. By late 2024, the island had nearly disappeared, eroding back into the sea like a fleeting mirage.
An island arose in the middle of the sea and disappeared over the course of like 18 months?
It's true, though! They have satellite photographs of this weird mystery fadeaway island:
The island's lifespan was as swift as it was baffling:
In November 2022, satellite images showed the volcano's crest still submerged beneath the sea. By February 14, 2023, the island had emerged, with a visible sediment plume trailing away from it. Further satellite observations indicated the island appeared sometime between January 30 and February 4, measuring roughly 400 meters (1,300 feet) across, according to geologist Mark Tingay of the University of Adelaide. By the end of 2024, only a small remnant of the island remained visible above the water.
Imagine visiting that island in early 2023 and then coming back to it in late 2024. You'd be just paddling around endlessly.
These "mud volcanoes" are "weird and wonderful features that remain largely understudied and little understood," one geologist said:
Ranging in size from a couple of meters to several kilometers across, most are found in areas with active tectonics or high sedimentation rates. These are places where subsurface pressure can build and force a mix of fluids, gases, and sediments to the surface.
Well, just remember, if you book a vacation for an exotic island in the Caspian Sea ... get trip insurance in case it's not there when you visit!
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