The Island That Appears On Maps But Does Not Exist
Sandy Island was on Google Maps until 2012. Sailors went to find it and found only ocean.
Reviewed by the CurioVault curator · 8 October 2026 · Editorial standards
Sandy Island in the Pacific appeared on maps from 1774 to 2012, including Google Maps. The Australian research vessel Southern Surveyor sailed to its coordinates in 2012 and found 1,400m deep ocean. It was likely a phantom island from Cook's era copied for centuries. For 238 years, we mapped an island that never existed.
Sources & Further Reading
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