Mysterious 'ghost island' is spotted by a NASA satellite - before vanishing entirely
Share:
The idea of a 'ghost' island might sound like a concept from the latest episode of Scooby Doo. But it has become a reality in the Caspian Sea. NASA satellites spotted a mysterious island - before watching it vanish entirely. The landmass emerged off the coast of Azerbaijan after a mud volcano erupted in early 2023.
![[In November, the crest of the volcano remained below the sea surface. But by Feburary (pictured), the island had appeared, and a sediment plume driftd away from it]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/13/11/94033291-14278155-image-a-2_1736767272714.jpg)
But by the end of 2024, it had nearly eroded away. According to NASA Earth Observatory, the island retreated from view 'like an apparition.'. 'Powerful eruptions of the Kumani Bank mud volcano have produced similar transient islands several times since its first recorded eruption in 1861,' it explained.
![[An artist's impression of NASA's Landsat 8 satellite, which snapped the photos of the 'ghost' island]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/13/11/94033295-14278155-An_artist_s_impression_of_NASA_s_Landsat_8_satellit-a-4_1736767335291.jpg)
'Also known as Chigil-Deniz, the feature is located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan.'. NASA's Landsat 8 and 9 satellites captured images of the island on November 18 2022 (left), February 14 2023 (centre), and December 25 2024 (right).
NASA's Landsat 8 and 9 satellites captured images of the island on November 18 2022, February 14 2023, and December 25 2024. In November, the crest of the volcano remained below the sea surface. But by the Feburary image, the island had appeared, and a sediment plume driftd away from it.
According to Mark Tingay, a geologist at the University of Adelaide, additional satellite observations suggest the island between January 30 and February 4 and measured approximately 400 meters (1,300 feet) across. However, by the end of 2024, the island had disappeared, with a 'greatly diminished' portion of the Kumani Bank left visible above the water.
