A forested island first appeared in the middle of Williston Reservoir, British Columbia’s largest freshwater lake, in early August by boaters who captured the scene in a video that has since gone viral. Boaters who captured the moment on video shared it widely online, sparking interest and curiosity. A satellite image taken in late July confirmed the island’s presence, showing a landmass about one-and-a-half times the size of an American football field.
Just weeks later, the island had disappeared from its original location, according to the BBC. Officials from British Columbia were unable to explain what happened to it at first. Bob Gammer, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, which manages the reservoir and a nearby dam, learned about the island after seeing the viral video.
The footage showed a forested area floating in the water, which initially struck Gammer as too realistic to be real. He said he thought the video might have been created by artificial intelligence. But when a satellite image taken on August 5 showed no trace of the island, he admitted he had no answers.
He questioned whether the island had sunk or moved elsewhere. Now, officials have located the island again, though it is no longer in its original spot. It has been found about six miles from where it was first seen.
Floating islands are not unheard of in other places, such as Wisconsin’s Lake Chippewa. That island, known as the Forty Acre Bog, is larger than the one in British Columbia. Experts say this island is different from a simple leaf or piece of debris floating on the surface.
It is remote and unlikely to be visited by many people. Gammer warned those who might try to explore it that they should stay away. He emphasized the importance of not stepping onto the island for safety reasons.