There are islands that were “discovered” and added to maps before it was discovered that they did not exist. However, the discoverers of such islands often claim to have seen them, and some even claim to have landed on them. But expeditions that went to the supposed islands often discovered the serene expanse of the ocean and nothing more, although there were those who claimed to have also seen the islands.

We have identified ten such islands. This list does not include islands that were added to the maps specifically for the purpose of misleading. Each of these islands was reported as having actually been seen, although some of them turned out to be fictitious. However, they all appeared on the maps.

10. Sandy Island

They learned that Sandy Island does not exist only in 2012. Prior to this, he appeared on several maps, including Google Earth, where it was located between Australia and French-administered New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. The island's existence was first recorded by the British whaling ship Velocity in 1876, and in 1908 it appeared on a British map.

Several expeditions failed to locate the island, and it was removed from some maps in the 1970s. However, it remained on other cards. Oddly enough, the island is not on French maps, which means that the French either knew that it did not exist or were not aware of its supposed existence. If the island really existed, it would belong to France, since it was in French waters.

The fact that the island does not exist was proven by scientists from the University of Sydney, who decided to visually verify its existence after their graphs showed that the estimated location of the island should be at a depth of 1400 meters. It is believed that the crew of Velocity saw a pumice raft, which they mistook for an island.

Pumice rafts are floating rocks formed as a result of volcanic activity. They are known to swim in the areas where Sandy Island would have been located.

9. Saint Brendan's Island


Photo: Guillaume Delisle

If ancient maps were correct, St Brendan's Island should have been located in the North Atlantic west of Canary Islands and south of the Azores. The island is named after Saint Brendan, an Irish monk who claimed to have discovered it in 512. St. Brendan didn't just find the island. He and 14 monks landed on it and even lived there for two weeks.

A monk named Barino even described the island, saying that it was covered with mountains, forests, birds and flowers. Other expeditions searched for the island, but to no avail, and by the 13th century it became obvious that it did not exist. Marcus Martinez, a Spanish historian, even described it as "a lost island discovered by Saint Brendan, but never discovered again."

However, another sailor claimed to have found the island in the 1400s but was unable to land due to bad weather. This renewed interest in the island, and the King of Portugal sent several ships to the island, which never returned. St Brendan's Island continued to appear on maps and ships continued to search for it until the 18th century, when everyone finally came to the conclusion that it did not exist.

According to the Journal of the Bizarre website, St. Brendan's Island actually existed. However, he plunged into the water and is now under the ocean. There may be a kernel of truth in this, as a seamount called the Great Meteor Seamount lies under the water exactly where the island should have been.

8. Hy-Brasil


Photo: Ocultoreveladoaverdade

High Brasil is a non-existent island rumored to be located approximately 320 kilometers from west coast Ireland. On some maps it was even depicted as two islands, although they had the same name. The island first appeared on maps in 1325 and was marked on them until the 1800s, when it was declared a hoax. There are also some myths associated with it.

Europeans believed that it was home to an advanced civilization, while the Irish said that the island was shrouded in thick fog and could only be seen once every seven. The name, shape and location of the island on maps often changed, although it remained in the same place. Between 1480 and 1481, England sent three expeditions to the island, but no one ever found it. However, in 1497, a Spanish diplomat announced that one of the English expeditions had found Hy-Brasil.

In 1674, a Scottish sea captain named John Nisbet claimed to have spotted the island while sailing from France to Ireland. He claimed that four of his crew landed on the island and remained there the whole day. The veracity of Nisbet's statements remains in question, since he further said that on the island there lived an old man who gave them gold and silver, and a magician who lived in the castle.

The next expedition was made by Captain Alexander Johnson, who also claimed to have landed on the island, although he did not mention whether the old man gave him the gold. In 1872, Robert O'Flaherty and T.J. Westropp also claimed to have seen Hy-Brazil with their own eyes. Westropp even said that he visited it three times, including once when he He took his family with him and claimed that they saw the island appear and disappear.

7. Frisland


Photo: Nicolo Zeno

In 1558, Nicolo Zeno of Venice claimed that two of his ancestors, Antonio and Nicolo, discovered an island called Friesland in the 1380s. Zeno argued that the island was located south of Iceland, Norway was located to the east of it, and Estotiland to the west. Estotiland itself was either Newfoundland or Labrador in North America. If this was so, this means that Zeno's ancestors reached America before Columbus.

It is believed that Zeno invented the island of Friesland because he wanted to be famous. And the Venetians fell for his lies because they wanted their navy to remain relevant because it had been eclipsed by the naval forces of Spain, France and England.

Friesland appeared on several maps before it was declared a hoax in the 19th century, but not before several sailors claimed to have seen it. In 1576, the Englishman Martin Frobisher mistook Greenland for Friesland, and John Dee even called it England in 1580. Then, in 1989, Giorgio Padoan, a philologist (study of historical works), argued that Zeno was telling the truth and that Italians had reached the New World before Columbus.

6. Buss Island


Photo: John Seller

Buss Island is a defunct island that was supposedly located between Ireland and the defunct Friesland. It was discovered by Martin Frobisher, who, as we have already mentioned, mistook Greenland for Friesland. In 1578 he probably mistook another island for one that had not yet been discovered, and named it Buss Island.

Captain Thomas Shepard claimed to have landed on Buss Island in 1671 and mapped it, prompting England to send an expedition there. The expedition was unable to find the island. In order to find legendary island Buss was equipped with many expeditions, but none of them managed to find it, while at the same time, ships that were not looking for the island always claimed to have found it.

In 1776, Buss Island's supposed location was reported to be shallow, leading some to believe it had sunk. It was even renamed the Sunken Land of Buss. However, the expedition of John Ross in 1818 showed that where the island was supposed to be located was deep. Buss Island continued to appear on maps until it was removed from them in the 19th century.

5. Crocker Land


Photo: Scout

Like Friesland, Crocker Land is another island invented from start to finish. This time the author of the hoax was Robert Peary, who was trying to raise funds for an expedition to the Arctic. In 1907, Peary claimed that during his earlier expedition in 1906 he had discovered new island near Greenland, which was located in Northern Canada 209 kilometers northwest of Cape Thomas Hubbard.

He named the island Crocker Land in honor of George Crocker, one of the sponsors of his 1906 expedition, who provided $50,000 for it. Peary wanted another $50,000 from Crocker, which is why the fake island was needed. Peary even wrote a book called Nearest to the Pole, in which he talked about his imaginary island. Everyone believed him, and several explorers even began to search for the island.

Crocker's land remained elusive, leading some to call it " lost Atlantis North." However, the island appeared on Arctic maps created between 1910 and 1913. This new land, which was even called a continent in some circles, attracted widespread interest, especially in the United States, until the island was exposed as Peary's fantasy.

4. Dougherty Island


Photo: Wikimedia

Some people call it Doheti Island, but that doesn't matter because it doesn't exist. Dougherty Island was named after Captain Daniel Dougherty, who "discovered" it far south in the Pacific Ocean during his voyage from New Zealand to Canada in 1841. Several other sailors also confirmed the island's existence, but one Captain Scott was unable to find it when he passed the island's supposed location in 1904.

On 11 August 1931, The Sydney Morning Herald of Australia reported that a joint British, Australian and New Zealand expedition to Antarctica had passed the suspected location of Dougherty Island and failed to find it.

The details of the incident were noted by the ship's commander, Captain Mackenzie, who stated that the ship passed directly over the place where the island was said to be located. The weather was clear, but no island was visible within a radius of 19 kilometers, so he could not be located anywhere else. Dougherty Island was removed from British maps in 1937.

3. Emerald Island


Photo: August Heinrich Petermann, Hermann Habenicht

In 1821, south of Macquarie Island and near Antarctica, Captain Nockells spotted an island. He named it after his ship Emerald (Emerald). It appears that Emerald Island chose who to show itself to and who not to, as it supposedly appeared and disappeared at will. Some expeditions claimed to have seen it, while others reported that they were unable to find it. Some even claimed that the island was changing location so it could not be seen in its intended location. Others said that the island really existed, but went under water as a result of seismic activity.

Those who claim to have seen the island cannot decide what it looks like. Some say its surface is mountainous, with steep cliffs, while others state it is hilly and covered with green forests. In 1890, one captain noted that the island was small and rocky, and there was no suitable place to land.

In 1840, two American ships under the command of Commodore Wilks passed over the supposed location of Emerald Island and found nothing. Captain Soule also passed over the supposed site of the island in 1877 and also found nothing. Shackleton and Amundsen sailed past where the island should have been in 1909 and 1910 and also found nothing.

However, in 1894 and 1949, two interesting incidents occurred near the island's stated location. In 1894, a Norwegian expedition heading to the South Pole spotted what they thought was an island. However, it turned out to be an iceberg. A Royal New Zealand Navy patrol from HMNZS Pukaki also sighted the island in April 1949. As they approached, the crew discovered that the supposed island was in fact a group of clouds that appeared to lie on the water.

2. Island of Demons


Photo: Taringa.net

In 1542, Jean-Francois de Roberval, lieutenant general of New France (now Canada), left the shores of France to sail to New France in three ships. With him was his cousin, Marguerite de la Rocque, whom he, along with her lover and maid, landed on Demon Island, which was presumably Quirpon Island in modern Newfoundland. Legend has it that Demon Island was full of demons and beasts that would attack anyone who dared to set foot on it.

Why Roberval dropped off his cousin there remains unknown. Some say he hated her for her relationship with her lover, while others say he wanted to take over her property. One entry also says that Roberval actually dropped off Rock's lover, and she decided to join him, although in the arc version it was Rock that was dropped off, and the lover decided to stay with her. Nowhere does it say that the maid joined them of her own free will.

Rock's maid and lover died on the island, but Rock herself survived and even gave birth to a child. The child later died and she remained alone on the island until she was rescued by fishermen in 1544. How true this story is remains in question, as Demon Island was removed from maps in the mid-17th century when it was concluded that it did not exist.

1. Saxemberg Island

Saxemberg Island was discovered by John Lindesz Lindeman in 1670. According to Lindeman, the island, which is supposedly located in the South Atlantic, is flat and has a mountain in its center. Several expeditions that followed this discovery claimed to have seen the island, although Australian navigator Matthew Flinders searched extensively for it in 1801 and found nothing.

In 1804, Captain Galloway claimed to have spotted the island and even seen a mountain in the center. In 1816, Captain Head confirmed these words. Other sailors also reported seeing the island, and some even claimed to have landed on it.

A certain Major General Alexander Beatson even made a detailed report on the flora of the island in 1816. He developed his theory by arguing that the island of Saxemberg, along with the islands of Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and Gough (which all exist in reality) were formed from the same continent. The island of Saxemberg itself continued to appear on maps until it was declared defunct in the 19th century.


There are certain islands that were "discovered" and added to maps, but which were subsequently never found. However, their discoverers often claimed to have seen these islands, and some even said that they had set foot on their shores. Expeditions sent to the supposed locations of these islands often ended in nothing. And today we can only guess: was there an island?

1. Sandy Island


between Australia and New Caledonia
In 2012, it was discovered that Sandy Island does not exist. It had previously appeared on several maps, including Google Earth, where it was located between Australia and New Caledonia (ruled by France) in the Pacific Ocean. The island was first recorded by the British whaling ship Velocity in 1876, and first appeared on a British map in 1908. Several expeditions failed to find the island and it was removed from a number of maps in the 1970s. However, it remained on other cards. Interestingly, the island did not appear on French maps at all, meaning that the French either knew it did not exist or were unaware of its supposed existence.

If the island really existed, it would belong to France, since it was in French waters. The absence of the island was proven by scientists from the University of Sydney, who decided to check its existence after realizing that their maps at the supposed location of the island showed the ocean depth to be 1,400 meters. It is believed that the crew of Velocity saw pumice, which they mistook for an island. "Pumice rafts" are floating rocks formed by volcanic activity. They are known to occur periodically in the area where Sandy Island is believed to have been located.

2. St. Brendan's Island


south of the Azores
If ancient maps were correct, St. Brendan's Island (or St. Brendan's Land) would have been located west of the Canary Islands and south of the Azores in the North Atlantic. The island is named after Saint Brendan, the Irish monk who claimed to have found it in 512 AD. St. Brendan didn't just find the island. He, along with 14 monks, landed on it and even lived there for two weeks. A monk named Barino described this island, saying that it abounded in mountains, forests, birds and flowers. Other expeditions tried to find the island to no avail, and by the 13th century it became obvious that it did not exist.

Marcus Martinez, a Spanish historian, even called it "the lost island discovered by Saint Brendan, which no one has been able to find since." However, another sailor claimed to have found it in the 1400s but was unable to go ashore due to a storm. This created a new surge of interest in the island, and the king of Portugal sent several ships, but they did not return. St Brendan's Island continued to appear on maps and ships continued to search for it until the 18th century, when everyone finally agreed that the island did not exist. Some scientists suggest that St. Brendan's Island actually existed. However, it was flooded and now lies below the surface of the ocean.

3. Hy-Brazil


northwest of Ireland
High Brasil is a non-existent island that was said to be located 320 kilometers off the west coast of Ireland. On some maps it was even represented as two islands, although they had the same name. Hy-Brasil first appeared on maps in 1325 and remained on maps until the 1800s, when its supposed existence was declared a hoax. There are many myths associated with this island. The Europeans believed that it was home to an advanced civilization, while the Irish said that Hy-Brasil was always hidden in an impenetrable fog and was visible only once every seven years.

The name, shape and location of the island changed frequently on maps, although it always remained in the same region. England sent three expeditions between 1480 and 1481, but none found the island. However, in 1497, a Spanish diplomat stated that one of the English expeditions had discovered Hy-Brasil. In 1674, a Scottish sea captain named John Nisbet claimed to have spotted the island as he sailed from France to Ireland. He claimed that four of his men went ashore and stayed on the island the whole day.

The veracity of Nisbet's testimony remains in question, since he also claimed that there lived an old man on the island who gave gold and silver to the sailors, as well as a wizard who lived in the castle. Captain Alexander Johnson set out on the next expedition, and on his return claimed to have landed on the island, although he made no mention of any old man with the gold. In 1872, Robert O'Flaherty and T. J. Westrop also claimed to have seen Hy-Brazil. Westropp even claimed that he visited it three times, including once seeing the island appear and disappear.

4. Friesland


south of Greenland
In 1558, Nicolo Zeno of Venice claimed that two of his ancestors, Antonio and Nicolo, discovered the island of Friesland in the 1380s. Zeno claimed that the island was located south of Iceland, west of Norway and east of Estethiland. Scholars speculate that Estotiland was either Newfoundland or Labrador in North America. If this is true, then this means that Zeno's ancestors arrived in America before Columbus. It is believed that Zeno faked Friesland's existence because he wanted to be popular. And the Venetians supported his lodges because they wanted their fleet to be a worthy competitor against the backdrop of the powerful fleets of Spain, France and England.

Friesland appeared on several maps until it was declared a fraud in the 19th century, despite the fact that some sailors had previously claimed to have seen it. In 1576, the Englishman Martin Frobisher mistook Greenland for Friesland, and John Dee even claimed the island for England in 1580. Then, in 1989, philologist Giorgio Padoan (who studies historical works) argued that Zeno was telling the truth and that the Italians reached the New World before Columbus.

5. Buss


between Ireland and Friesland
Buss is a defunct island that was supposedly located between Ireland and the defunct Friesland. It was discovered by Martin Frobisher, who, as mentioned above, mistook Greenland for Friesland. In 1578 he probably mistook another island for an undiscovered island, which he named Buss. Captain Thomas Shepard claimed to have visited and charted Buss Island in 1671, leading England to send an expedition to the "new land".

The British were unable to find the legendary island, so several more expeditions were sent, all of which were failures. In 1776, it was reported that a sandbar had been found at the supposed location of Buss Island, leading some to believe that the island had simply been flooded. It was even renamed the Submerged Buss Island. However, the expedition of John Ross in 1818 showed that there was no sandbank at the supposed location of the island. However, Busse continued to appear on maps until the 19th century.

6. Crocker Land


northwest of Cape Hubbard (Northern Canada)
Like Friesland, Crocker Land is another island that was completely made up. This time Robert Peary tried to raise funds for an expedition to the Arctic. In 1907, Peary stated that during an earlier expedition in 1906 he had discovered a new island near Greenland, 209 kilometers northwest of Cape Thomas Hubbard (Northern Canada). He named the island Crocker Land after George Crocker, who co-founded the 1906 expedition, financed Peary with $50,000. Peary wanted to get another $50,000 from Crocker, so he came up with a fake island. He even wrote a book called “The Nearest Pole,” in which he talked about his fictitious island.

Everyone believed him, and several explorers even began searching for Crocker Land. But the island remained elusive, leading some to call it the "Lost Atlantis of the North." However, Crocker Land appeared on Arctic maps created between 1910 and 1913. This new land, which some scientists even called a continent, attracted widespread interest, especially in the United States, until it was recognized as a fabrication by Peary.

7. Dougherty


south of New Zealand
Some people call it Dougherty Island, but that doesn't matter because it doesn't exist. Dougherty Island was named after Captain Daniel Dougherty, who "discovered" it far south in the Pacific Ocean during a voyage from New Zealand to Canada in 1841. Several other sailors also confirmed its existence, but Captain Scott was unable to find the island when he sailed past its supposed location in 1904.

On 11 August 1931, the Sydney Morning Herald of Australia reported that a joint British, Australian and New Zealand expedition to Antarctica passed right by the supposed location of Dougherty Island and failed to find it. The weather was clear, and no islands were observed within a radius of 19 kilometers. Dougherty Island was eventually removed from British maps in 1937.

8. Emerald


south of Macquarie Island (near Antarctica)
In 1821, Captain Norkells discovered an island south of Macquarie Island and near Antarctica. He named it after his ship, the Emerald. It seemed as if the Emerald Isle itself determined who should see it and who should not, since it supposedly appeared and disappeared at its discretion. Some expeditions claimed to have seen the island, while others reported being unable to find it. Some even claimed that the island is moving, so people can't find it in its supposed location. Others said that the island actually existed, but sank to the bottom of the ocean due to seismic activity.

There were also disagreements regarding the appearance of the island among those who allegedly saw it. Some said Emerald was mountainous with steep cliffs, while others said it was hilly with green forests. In 1890, one captain even said that it was small and so rocky that there was no suitable place to land on it. In 1840, two ships under the command of Commodore Wilkes of the United States sailed over the supposed location of Emerald Island and found nothing. This was the end of the search for Captain Soule in 1877, as well as for Shackleton and Amundsen in 1909 and 1910.

However, two interesting incidents occurred in the area of ​​the island's supposed location in 1894 and 1949. In 1894, a Norwegian expedition to the South Pole spotted what scientists believed to be an island. However, it turned out to be an iceberg. The Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Pukaki also discovered the island in April 1949. As they got closer, the crew discovered that the supposed island was actually a group of clouds that had descended onto the water.

9. "Island of Demons"


northeast of Newfoundland
In 1542, Jean-François de Roberval, lieutenant general of New France (now Canada), sailed three ships from France to New France. He landed his cousin Marguerite de la Roque, her sailor lover and her maid on the "Isle of Demons", believed to be Quirpon Island in modern Newfoundland. Legend said that the island was inhabited by demons and wild animals that attacked anyone who dared to set foot on its shores. Why Roberval dropped off his cousin remains unknown.

Some say he did this because Margarita became pregnant by her lover, while others claim he wanted to take over her fortune. Soon the maid and lover Rokk died on the island, but the girl survived and even gave birth to a child. The child then died, leaving her alone on the island until she was rescued by fishermen in 1544. The authenticity of this story remains in question, as the "Island of Demons" was removed from maps in the mid-17th century because it was never found again.

10. Saxemberg


near the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (South Atlantic)
Saxemberg Island was discovered by John Lindes Lindeman in 1670. According to Lindeman's statements, the island, supposedly located in the South Atlantic, was flat with a mountain in its center. Several subsequent expeditions did not find the island, although, for example, the Australian captain Matthew Flinders searched for it very carefully in 1801. In 1804, Captain Galloway claimed to have sighted the island and even its central mountain. Captain Gowar confirmed his claims in 1816. Other sailors also began to claim that they had seen the island, and some even said that they had landed on it.

Major General Alexander Beatson even spoke in detail about the flora of the island in 1816. Moreover, he developed his theory by arguing that the island of Saxemberg, along with the islands of Ascension and Gough (which do exist) once formed a single ancient continent. The island of Saxemberg itself continued to appear on maps until it finally disappeared from them in the 19th century.

Maps are not only useful for travelers. They also give inspiration for creativity. It's worth seeing to understand that this is really the case.

Based on materials from listverse.com

In an effort to leave as few blank spots as possible on the map during the Great Geographical Discoveries, navigators sometimes put imaginary islands on it. Behind new land an iceberg or a mirage could be mistakenly taken. One of these ghost islands - Sandy - was exposed by scientists just two years ago. Having sailed to the supposed location of the island, the researchers discovered that the piece of land marked on most maps of the planet did not actually exist. Having studied in detail the geography of ancient maps, we counted a dozen more phantom islands, which for a long time were considered real.

  • Thule

    Where was it: in northern Europe

    The island was described by the Greek traveler Pytheas in his essay “On the Ocean”. In the 6th century, he set out from Hades to the shores of Britain, from there he reached Scotland, after which he reached Thule. Many scientists believe that he could have mistaken for Thule the Orkney Islands, Greenland, Shetland, Scandinavia, or the Farroe Islands, but none of these hypotheses have been proven. Thule could be found on geographical maps up to the 17th century.


    • St Brendan's Island

    Location: west of the Canary Archipelago

    According to legend, Saint Brendan landed on the island together with monks in 512. They lived on an island with rich nature and a mild climate for 7 years. It is believed that the island of St. Brendan is the eighth island of the Canary archipelago that does not exist in reality. The island was mentioned in many medieval works. The hypothetical land was marked on the maps of Mercator, Ortelius and Delisle.


    Friesland Island

    Where was it: south of Iceland, at the same longitude

    In 1558, Nicolo Zeno published a map and letters from his seafaring ancestors, which he accidentally found at home. According to records, the Zeno brothers crossed the North Atlantic in the 1390s. During the expedition they discovered the island of Friesland. The landmass appeared on maps of the North Atlantic from the 1560s to the 1660s. According to one of the hypotheses, they incorrectly determined the position of one of the Faroe Islands and they called one of them Friesland, the other - all this was a hoax made by the young Zeno to ensure Venice priority in the discovery of the New World before Christopher Columbus.


    Buss Island

    Location: between Ireland and Friesland Island

    The island was discovered by the English navigator Martin Frobisher during his third expedition to the shores North America. It got its name from the type of ship on which the sailors arrived. It is believed that the new land was actually Greenland and the supposed discovery was made in poor visibility conditions. According to another version, the island existed, but sank. The island or its supposed location appeared on maps of the 19th century.


    Antilia Island

    Location: West of the Iberian Peninsula.

    Large rectangular island in Atlantic Ocean depicted on maps of the 15th century. First mysterious land appeared on the portolan of the Venetian cartographer Giovanni Pizzigano. In total, 23 cartographic images of Antilia are known, the last of them dates back to 1508. After the discovery of America and the creation of the Earth's Apple globe, the island appeared on maps less and less often. In the 16th century, the island began to be identified with the Azorean island of Sao Miguel.


    Demon Island

    Location: Near Newfoundland

    The existence of the island has been believed since the beginning of the 16th century. The ghost land supposedly consisted of two islands and were inhabited by wild animals and demons. According to legend, the inhabitants of the island attacked ships passing close to it, so they were afraid to approach it, much less set foot on the shore. By the mid-17th century, Demon Island was no longer depicted on maps.


    Brazil Island

    Location: West of Ireland/Azores area

    The island appears on maps made between the 14th and 17th centuries. It was believed that the island was surrounded by fog and haze, which cleared only once every 7 years. Because of this feature, the exact location of the island was unknown, so cartographers alternately shifted the island to the Azores, then to the west of Ireland. In the 18th century, the island disappeared from maps, despite the fact that some sailors continued to claim that they were on a mysterious land.


    Pontchartrain Islands

    Location: Lake Superior

    Two islands were discovered in the middle of the world's largest island fresh lake. They appeared on maps in 1783, when the United States and Great Britain were about to sign the Treaty of Paris. Among other things, it spelled out the boundaries - both lands came into the possession of America. In the early 1800s, it was determined that the islands did not actually exist.


    Emerald Island

    Location: in the southern part Pacific Ocean

    Sailors plowing the seas in December 1821 between Australia and Antarctica south of Macquarie Island discovered the island. They named it the same as the name of the ship - Emerald. In 1840, the US Navy organized an exploration expedition to the island, but they did not find it. Although no one ever set foot on the island, the mysterious landmass has appeared on many maps, including the Soviet Atlas of Antarctica and a 1987 map in a diary published by American Express.


    Crocker Land

    Where was it located: in the Arctic Ocean

    The island was discovered by American explorer Robert Peary during an expedition to Ellesmere Island in 1906. Looking around through binoculars, Robert saw the snowy peaks of an unknown island. In 1913, an expedition that included Piri set off to explore the new land. However, they did not find the island. It is believed that Piri mistook one of the varieties of mirage - Fata Morgana - for the island. Despite the failure, the search for the island continued in 1914 and 1915. The Crocker Land theory was finally disproved by MacGregor's Arctic Expedition in 1937-38.

Last edition of the material: July 2017

Many people believe that a holiday on the islands is heavenly holiday. And they are not wrong. Probably, heaven was in some such place, and not in heaven at all. Our list of wonderful islands of the world, of course, is not exhaustive, since for a description of all, all, all beautiful and interesting places Life wouldn't be enough. We have made a selection of the most popular islands among tourists, which are definitely worth your attention.

Madeira

Country: Portugal

This is an entire archipelago with extremely beautiful nature: endemic birds chirping in dense forests, rocks on which sea waves crash... And all this borders on stunningly cozy European buildings and European tourist services.

Majorca

Country: Spain

This is one of the most environmentally friendly resorts Mediterranean Sea. In addition, it is always very affordable. The mild maritime climate allows you to relax here all year round. In Mallorca, history and beautiful architecture are intertwined with tourist-friendly forests, and the coastline offers breathtaking views and excellent beaches.

Canaries
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Country: Spain

The Canary archipelago is a place where the maximum number of attractions is concentrated in relatively small spaces. And what kind! The symbol of the archipelago is the Teide volcano with its eternally snow-capped peak, which looks almost the same in both winter and summer. And what about the Maspalomas dunes, which border the ocean! And tourists also love the Canaries because they are islands of eternal spring: it is never too cold or hot here.

Cape Verde
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Country: Cape Verde

Experienced tourists believe that the good thing about the Cape Verde Islands is that the tourism industry here has not yet been put into operation, and therefore the attitude towards tourists is very reverent. In addition, these islands are somewhat reminiscent of the Canary Islands. Here you can visit uninhabited islands, and see black dunes and volcanic craters, on the slopes of which grapes are grown.

Zanzibar
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Tanzania

Zanzibar is a real African island exotic, complete peace and unity with nature in the middle of snow-white sandy beaches, as if created from powdered sugar, snorkeling to coral reefs, a trip to giant tame turtles, flying dogs and baobab trees.

Madagascar
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Republic of Madagascar

When talking about traveling to Madagascar, it is worth mentioning the exceptionally exotic nature. This piece of land once broke away from a huge continent - and as a result, evolution took its own path here. Local animals are completely different from others; they are mostly endemic. Also tourist business card The islands are made up of giant baobab trees, shrouded in the typical fog of these places. A truly spectacle for true travel connoisseurs.

Maldives
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Maldives

The Maldives is luxurious bliss, complete relaxation, music playing everywhere and no alcohol. All this condition is complemented by houses for tourists, unusually standing in the crystal clear turquoise waters of the ocean.

Sri Lanka
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (old name - Ceylon)

This is where you can go on a river safari in the middle of huge mangroves, from which snakes hang, and also climb Adam's Peak - a huge sacred mountain. And be sure to try for yourself what real Ayurvedic practices are.

Samui
Location: Gulf of Thailand
Country: Thailand

This is an island for those who love bliss and exoticism South-East Asia. Here you can ride elephants, see Buddhist temples, swim in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand, bask on the hot sand, watch snake shows and taste delicious exotic food.

Phuket
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Thailand

Phuket is a resort for the wealthy. Here along coastline numerous bungalows lined up. And the symbol of this island are huge rocks growing directly from the ocean waters. All the same exotics that Koh Samui offers are also available here.

Ko Chang
Location: Gulf of Thailand
Country: Thailand

Koh Chang (Elephant Island) is located off the coast of Thailand and is one of its most accessible islands for travelers - both in price and in terms of transport. On Ko Chang you will see stunningly beautiful sunsets, and you will also be able to climb mountains covered with dense jungle. In addition, there is an absolutely stunning elephant nursery, where you can ride elephants among banana thickets, and also order a swim with baby elephants in the sea.

Samet
Location: Gulf of Thailand
Country: Thailand

In terms of accessibility, it is even easier than Koh Chang; the island offers quite budget holiday. It is very small, but there are secluded places here, which is why Samet was chosen by Europeans. Hotels offer accommodation mainly in bungalows located directly on the beach.

Bali
Location: Indian Ocean, Bali Sea, Pacific Ocean
Country: Indonesia

Bali is very exotic place, saturated with humid fogs, stormy sea waters, Buddhist symbolism with elements of animism. Bali also has very tasty cuisine and interesting traditions. A true traveler should visit Bali at least once in his life.

Borneo
Location: South China Sea and other seas
Country: Malaysia, Indonesia

The highlight of Borneo is its virginity and endemic plants and animals. So, for example, here you will meet proboscis monkeys or see a corpse lily in the jungle, which emits a terrible smell, but is very beautiful, and you can also get acquainted with predatory flowers that can slam their “mouths” shut.

Komodo Islands
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Indonesia

The symbol of the Komodo Islands is the monitor lizard, which is one of the most ancient animals on Earth. They look very touching, but don’t put your finger in their mouth - the monitor lizard is very predatory, and is not averse to feasting on even a person.

Djerba
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Country: Tunisia

The island of Djerba is one of the most expensive resorts Tunisia, but Tunisia itself is inexpensive, so you won’t spend too much money on Djerba. There is a lagoon where they live pink flamingos: when there are a lot of them, the spectacle is simply amazing.

Fiji
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: Republic of Fiji

Fiji is famous for its wet... rainforests, swim in cleanest waters ocean, watch the life of geckos and iguanas, and plunge into the unique ethnic flavor of this island forgotten by our people.

Bora Bora
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: French Polynesia

If we talk about the most beautiful sea and beach holidays, it is simply impossible not to remember Bora Bora. Here is one of the most interesting underwater worlds on the Planet that can be accessed by snorkelers. Walking in the thickets of orchids and ferns, swimming in grottoes and lagoons, exploring stingrays - all this will give you the island of Bora Bora.

Dominican Republic

Country: Dominican Republic

Palm trees bent over secluded beaches, the clearest Caribbean Sea, the colonial capital of Santo Domingo, luxurious Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. For recent years Dominican Republic, thanks to its mild warm climate, rich cultural and historical heritage and excellent hotel infrastructure, is gradually gaining the title of a world-famous tourist center.

Vanuatu
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: Republic of Vanuatu

The islands of Vanuatu are pristine places in the volcanic mountains, home to local tribes who know no civilization. If you want something truly unusual, then this is the place for you. It is after such a trip that you can brag about your trip even among experienced travelers!

Hawaii
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: USA

If you really want to give yourself the greatest joy in life - a vacation in a real paradise, where the beach, tropics and sea allow you to forget from the daily hustle and bustle, then you should definitely go to Hawaii. The entire chain of islands is made up of volcanoes. This is Diamond Head on the island of Oahu, fire-breathing Kilauea in national park Hawaiian volcanoes (Big Island Hawaii), where you may see hot lava for the first time in your life. The island of Maui is famous for the beauty of the inactive crater of the Haleakala volcano.

Bahamas
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Country: Bahamas

George Washington called them the Islands of Eternal June. And if you tell someone that you are going to the Bahamas, you will definitely see an envious reaction, because this vacation is not for everyone, but only for the elite. For those who truly appreciate natural attractions and believe in mysticism. What is the Bimini Road worth? American soothsayer Edgar Cayce called it the lost Atlantis. And after that, 700 meters of neatly laid out limestone blocks, which are called the Bimini Road, were discovered in the sea, off the coast of Paradise Point in North Bimini. Obviously, this is not a natural, but a man-made monument. But who built it?

Marieta Island
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: Mexico

The highlight of Marieta Island is its unusual beach, which is called hidden. It is located inside a huge rock cavity into which sea water is poured.

Seychelles
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Republic of Seychelles

Seychelles is a resort for the very rich. In addition to first-class recreation, the islands also offer an opportunity to meet Seychelles turtles, explore the famous sloping rocks falling into the ocean, and be sure to buy the world-famous huge coconuts.

Mauritius
Location: Indian Ocean
Country: Republic of Mauritius

Mauritius is a civilized exotic and best hotels Indian Ocean. These are magnificent beaches framed by palm trees. This is a glamorous holiday for the elite. If you are in Mauritius, you don't need to prove anything to anyone. The very fact of your being there speaks for itself.

Cuba
Location: Caribbean
Country: Republic of Cuba

This Island state with incredibly beautiful landscapes, beaches and attractions! However, of course, tourists are interested in the special culture of this country, which seems to be stuck in the last century, as well as the world-famous Cuban cigars, Cuban dances and Cuban rum.

Jamaica
Location: Caribbean
Country: Jamaica

Few tourists know, but Jamaica is famous for its nudist and swing hotels. Jamaica also gave the world such a direction of music and art, as well as a philosophy of life, like reggae. Jamaica is literally imbued with the spirit of regularity and freedom. It is also famous for its brilliant carnivals and other fun holidays.

Malta
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Country: Republic of Malta

Malta is one of the very beautiful archipelagos and at the same time financially accessible to the majority of tourists. This is an island offering European service, an island with rich history. Beach holiday It’s good here, and among the excursions it’s preferable to go on foot, as the places are very beautiful.

Cyprus
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Country: Republic of Cyprus

Cyprus is a wonderful island of sea and sun. Cyprus is the birthplace of Aphrodite. Cyprus is a tasty morsel that has changed hands throughout its history, remaining on the periphery of various empires. Cyprus is a place where you can fall in love at first sight...

Sardinia
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Country: Italy

E That Italian island offers tourists a mild climate, interesting story and amazingly delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Here you will plunge into blue sea ​​waters, go shipwreck diving, visit Neptune's Cave and taste excellent Muscat wine.

Crete
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Country: Greece

Crete is rightfully considered one of paradise islands peace. Beautiful landscapes and ancient history, and rich cultural traditions. In addition, Crete is located at a relatively short distance from us, which means that in terms of money it is much more affordable than other paradise places.

Easter Island
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: Chile

The symbol of Easter Island are the statues that settled here hundreds of years ago and were created by people from a vanished civilization. We don’t know why this civilization died out. But Easter Island is still imbued with its spirit. And the tourist will find here, in addition to the historical part of the trip, also many purely physical pleasures, such as taking a natural bath among the stones with warm water from a natural spring - with a view of the ocean in front of your eyes and a glass of champagne in your hand.

Galapagos Islands
Location: Pacific Ocean
Country: Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands are the pinnacle of a traveler's dreams. They are located very far away, so once you are here, you can say with confidence that you have seen the end of the world. And at the end of the world, at the same time, people live a rather measured life, sharing islands with fur seals, which are the goal of absolutely all tourists arriving here.