Canada's Mysterious Floating Island Turns Out to Be Real, and Moving

A suddenly appearing and then vanishing island in British Columbia has left Canadians stumped. What is the story behind this mysterious island floating in a remote part of Canada? Read on for the fascinating details.

Boaters Discover Small and Lush Island in British Columbia

Boaters on Williston Reservoir in British Columbia, Canada, observed a mysterious small island in late July, setting off a quest to discover the origins of this piece of land. Power company BC Hydro began fielding photos and videos of the lush forested island on August 13. The company was originally skeptical of the images of the island that seemingly came out of nowhere.

According to BC Hydro Community Relations Manager Bob Gammer, officials were not convinced that the photos and video were not the product of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As Gammer noted, “In the age of AI, it’s important to verify unusual reports before drawing conclusions.”

Officials used a collection of satellite imagery and footage from aircraft and boaters to confirm that the island was not a mirage. On September 2, BC Hydro confirmed that the island had been found nestled against the shoreline along Williston Reservoir's Ospika Arm. This resting place was roughly 19 miles northwest of where it was first observed at the end of July.  As such, BC Hydro believes that the tiny piece of land drifted for almost 20 miles over 15 days before coming to a stop.