Massive mystery island surfaces in B.C. reservoir, then disappears
After publishing: 1 headline quietly rewritten1 change
- NYT Worldseen 3 Sept, 03:04headline rewritten
Phantom Island Mysteriously Appears, Then Vanishes on B.C. ReservoirPhantom Island Mysteriously Appears, Vanishes, Then Reappears on B.C. Reservoir
What it is about
Who published it, and when
7 reports left out of the cascade - too little in common with the story to place
How it spread - 11 original reports, 1 reprint
Sun, 30 August 2026
1 report- newsweek.com19:37
Around the world, islands are breaking apart, eroding, or vanishing entirely as climate‑driven extremes intensify.
Mon, 31 August 2026
1 report- NYT World22:47edited after publishing
previously
Phantom Island Mysteriously Appears, Then Vanishes on B.C. ReservoirOfficials first thought it was just an A.I. ruse, until they checked satellite images of northern British Columbia. The mystery deepened, and on Monday the island was located.
Tue, 1 September 2026
5 reports- 24sata (Croatia)07:02
Satelitske snimke od 21. srpnja potvrdile su da je otok stvaran i da pluta u glavnom dijelu jezera...
- Novinky (Czechia)12:02first to report
Na vodní ploše kanadského jezera Williston se koncem července objevil nový plovoucí ostrov. Místní obyvatel Rocky Avery ho zachytil na video a jeho existenci potvrdily i satelitní snímky. Ostrov se však v následujících dnech ztratil, ale na konci srpna ho Avery opět objevil. Na jiném místě.
- Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)12:28
In einem Stausee in British Columbia stößt ein Bootsfahrer auf eine bislang unentdeckte bewaldete Insel. Kurz darauf ist sie verschwunden und taucht später wieder auf – 32 Kilometer entfernt. Was hat es damit auf sich?
- N1 Info (Croatia)17:02
Plutajući otok prekriven zelenim, zdravim drvećem uočen je kako pluta jezerom Williston u Kanadi, a prizor je toliko neobičan da zbunjuje i stručnjake
- Index.hr (Croatia)17:38
GOLEMI plutajući otok sa živim drvećem pronađen je u Kanadi nakon što je, nošen vjetrom, na jezeru Williston prešao čak 30 kilometara.
Wed, 2 September 2026
1 report- Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)10:59
Un video creato con l’Intelligenza Artificiale? No. Una vera isola che scompare e riappare. Nel lago Williston, nella Columbia Britannica, è comparsa una sorta di isola coperta da alberi che nelle ultime settimane ha fatto qualcosa di poco comune: si è spostata di decine di chilometri. È lunga circa 150 metri, larga 75 e ricoperta […] L'articolo Un’isola coperta di alberi appare, scompare e poi ricompare 30 chilometri più in là: “Non avevo mai visto nulla di simile” proviene da Il Fatto...
Thu, 3 September 2026
1 report- wltribune.com00:08
Floating island made headlines around the world after it appeared to have suddenly disappeared
1 reprint
- interior-news.com3 Sept, 00:08their copy
Sun, 6 September 2026
1 report- Vecernji list (Croatia)15:12
Riječ je o golemom plutajućem otoku, dugom oko 140 i širokom 70 metara, koji se pojavio na otvorenoj vodi, a zatim ponovno nestao.
Mon, 7 September 2026
1 report- Wirtualna Polska (Poland)13:03
Na sztucznym jeziorze Williston w kanadyjskiej Kolumbii Brytyjskiej pojawiła się zalesiona wyspa, a potem zniknęła z kolejnych zdjęć satelitarnych. Jej istnienie potwierdzono na ujęciach z 21 lipca, ale 5 sierpnia nie było już po niej śladu. Jakie jest wyjaśnienie?