The Lost Island

July 1, 2024 2:01 PM

Bermeja Island, north of Yucatan, disappeared. Or else it never existed.

Although appearing on maps well into the 20th century, it could not be located when Mexico sought to use its presence to extend its oil-drilling rights. Theories for its disappearance include erosion, sea-level rising, and the CIA.
It does appear on Google Maps as a pointer and has 700 reviews including 49 for its mermaids.

posted by dances_with_sneetches (5 comments total)

maybe it was destroyed by an asteroid [wiki]
posted by HearHere at 2:54 PM on July 1

Countries making maps in the 16th and 17th centuries published them with inaccuracies to prevent their enemies from using them.

They also had lousy navigation and regularly made really crappy maps. Which were frequently copied from other crappy maps. This is not the only island that has “disappeared”.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:01 PM on July 1 [1 favorite]

Map Men did a full video on missing islands. Some have gone missing in the last 20 years.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:07 PM on July 1 [4 favorites]

You know what else was an island in 16th and 17th century maps?
posted by Horace Rumpole at 3:27 PM on July 1 [1 favorite]

Recently. Also, vaguely related: The Vanishing Islands That Failed to Vanish. Some islands predicted to erode or disappear with rising oceans are growing instead as new sand is deposited.

But in this case it seems likely the island just never existed. The source maps are notoriously inaccurate.
posted by Nelson at 3:30 PM on July 1 [2 favorites]