Here is a curated list of islands that have appeared on maps throughout history. These islands never actually existed. They are known as phantom islands. They often originated from navigational errors, optical illusions, or myths. Some remained on maps for centuries before being debunked.
Famous Phantom Islands
1. Hy-Brasil
- Location: west of Ireland
- Origins: Irish mythology
- First mapped: 1325 by the Genoese cartographer Angelino Dulcert
- Belief: Said to be cloaked in mist, visible only once every seven years.
- Reality: No evidence of its existence—inspired by folklore or optical illusions at sea.
Hy-Brasil, the legendary phantom island, has appeared on various historical maps over the centuries. Here are some notable examples:
- Angelino Dulcert’s Portolan Chart (1325) – One of the earliest maps to depict an island named “Bracile” west of Ireland.
- Andrea Bianco‘s Venetian Map (1436) – Shows “Insula de Brasil” among a group of Atlantic islands.
- Abraham Ortelius‘ Map (1570) – Displays an island named “Brasil” west of central Ireland.
- João Teixeira Albernaz‘s Nautical Chart (1630) – Features a circular island named “Do Brasil,” divided by a river.
- Thomas Jefferys’ Atlantic Chart (1753) – Labels it as the “Imaginary Isle of O Brazil”.
- Guillaume de L’Isle’s Map (1769) – Identifies it as “Rocher de Brasil” (Brasil Rock).
Hy-Brasil continued on maps until 1873, when it was last shown on a British Admiralty Chart. Its mysterious presence fueled myths and expeditions, but no solid evidence of its existence was ever found.
2. Sandy Island
- Location: Between Australia and New Caledonia (Coral Sea)
- First reported: 1876 by the whaling ship Velocity
- Mapped until: 2012, including on Google Earth
- Disproven: Australian scientists tried to land on it and found open sea.
- Possible explanation: Pumice rafts, cloud shadows, or erroneous sonar readings.
Sandy Island is a fascinating case of a phantom island. It appeared on maps for over a century. In 2012, it was officially “undiscovered.” Here are some maps that depicted Sandy Island:
- British Admiralty Map (1908) – This is one of the earliest known maps to show Sandy Island. It is based on a supposed French discovery in 1876.
- General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GBCO) – A modern oceanographic map initially included Sandy Island by mistake. Corrections were later made.
- Google Earth (Pre-2012) – Displayed a dark patch where Sandy Island was believed to exist, adding to the mystery.
- A.F. Garnier’s Map (1862) – Labeled Sandy Island northwest of New Caledonia.
An Australian research expedition in 2012 found deep ocean at its supposed location. This discovery led to its removal from official charts, despite its presence on maps.
3. Thule (Ultima Thule)
- Location: Beyond the northernmost known lands—near Iceland or Scandinavia
- Origins: Ancient Greek geography (Pythéas, c. 4th century BCE)
- Myth: A mystical land at the edge of the known world
- Reality: Never conclusively identified; likely a distortion of real northern lands.
Thule, also known as Ultima Thule, has appeared on various historical maps, often as a mysterious or distant northern land. Here are some notable maps that depict Thule:
- Carta Marina (1539) – Created by Olaus Magnus, this map places Thule northwest of the Orkney Islands.
- Gerardus Mercator‘s Map (1595) – Shows Thule as part of a group of northern islands.
- Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570) – Depicts Thule as a distant northern land.
- Guillaume de L’Isle‘s Map (1700s) – Identifies Thule in the Arctic region.
- Modern Interpretations – Some maps associate Thule with Iceland, Greenland, or the Faroe Islands.
4. Antillia
- Location: Mid-Atlantic, west of Portugal
- First mapped: 15th century, especially on portolan charts
- Also called: The Isle of Seven Cities
- Myth: Refuge for bishops fleeing the Muslim conquest of Iberia
- Reality: Vanished from maps after the Age of Discovery disproved its presence.
Antillia, a legendary phantom island, appeared on several historical maps during the Age of Exploration. Here are some notable examples:
- Zuane Pizzigano‘s Portolan Chart (1424) – One of the earliest maps to depict Antillia as a large rectangular island.
- Albino de Canepa’s Map (1489) – Shows Antillia alongside other mythical Atlantic islands.
- Various 15th-century nautical charts – Many maps from this period included Antillia, often alongside the smaller island of Roillo.
- Post-1492 maps – As Atlantic navigation improved, Antillia gradually disappeared from maps.
5. Frisland
- Location: South of Iceland
- Prominent on: 16th and 17th-century maps, especially the Zeno Map (1558)
- Confusion with: a distorted version of the Faroe Islands
- Reality: No such island exists, though it appeared for over a century in cartography.
Frisland, a phantom island, appeared on maps from the 16th to 17th centuries before being dismissed as a cartographic error. Here are some notable maps that depicted Frisland:
- Zeno Map (1558) – One of the earliest maps to show Frisland, based on supposed voyages by the Zeno brothers.
- Gerardus Mercator’s Map (1569) – Included Frisland as a distinct island in the North Atlantic.
- Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570) – Depicted Frisland as a large island west of Norway.
- Willem Blaeu‘s Map (1630) – Featured Frisland among other mythical islands.
- Vincenzo Coronelli‘s Map (1693) – Labeled Frisland near Greenland, questioning its existence.
Frisland was eventually removed from maps as explorers found no trace of it.
6. Bermeja
- Location: Off the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
- Historical presence: 16th to 19th centuries in Mexican and Spanish maps
- Disappearance: Not be found in modern sonar and satellite surveys
- Conspiracy theory: Some claim it was intentionally erased or sank
- Plausible reason: Cartographic error or landform that eroded away.
Bermeja Island is a phantom island that appeared on maps for centuries before mysteriously disappearing. Here are some maps that depicted Bermeja:
- Alonzo de Santa Cruz‘s Map (1539) – One of the earliest maps to show Bermeja off the coast of Mexico.
- Henry S. Tanner‘s Map (1846) – Included Bermeja in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Various 16th-20th Century Maps – Many Spanish and British maps continued to show Bermeja until the 20th century.
The island was shown on maps. But, surveys conducted in 1997 and 2009 found no trace of it. This led to speculation about its disappearance. Some theories suggest rising sea levels, cartographic errors, or even conspiracy theories involving geopolitical interests.
7. Los Jardines
- Location: Western Pacific
- Reported by: Early Spanish navigators in the 16th century
- Belief: Group of fertile, garden-like islands
- Discredited: Later explorers never found them again
- Likely cause: Misidentification of known islands or navigational errors.
Los Jardines is a phantom island that appeared on historical maps but was later removed from official charts. Here are some maps that depicted Los Jardines:
- 1806 British Map – Shows two possible locations for Los Jardines northeast of the Mariana Islands.
- 1891 German Map – Places Los Jardines within the Anson Archipelago.
- 1899 British Map – Depicts Los Jardines northwest of the Marshall Islands.
- 1932 German Map – Includes Los Jardines in the Pacific, near the Marianas.
Spanish explorers reportedly sighted Los Jardines in the 16th century. Yet, later surveys found no trace of the island. It was officially removed from nautical charts in 1973
8. Aurora Islands
- Location: South Atlantic Ocean, between South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Named after: The ship Aurora (sighted them in 1762)
- Sighted again: Multiple times until the mid-19th century
- Reality: No landmass exists there—likely mirages or misidentified icebergs.
Aurora Island, or the Aurora Islands, is a phantom island. It appeared on maps in the 18th and 19th centuries. Later, it was dismissed as nonexistent. Here are some maps that depicted Aurora Island:
- 1808 Map of South America – Shows the “Isles of Aurora” in the South Atlantic.
- Spanish Nautical Charts (1762-1856) – Various Spanish maps recorded sightings of the Aurora Islands.
- British Admiralty Charts (19th Century) – Included Aurora Islands until they were removed in the late 1800s.
The islands were reportedly sighted multiple times, but later expeditions found no trace of them. They continued to be on maps until the 1870s, when they were officially removed
9. Pepys Island
- Claimed location: North of the Falklands
- Reported by: English privateer William Cowley in 1684
- Named after: Samuel Pepys
- Mapped by: Some 18th-century British cartographers
- Eventually removed: No evidence found in the area—a mistaken sighting of the Falklands themselves.
Pepys Island is a phantom island. It appeared on maps in the 17th and 18th centuries. Later, it was dismissed as a cartographic error. Here are some maps that depicted Pepys Island:
- William Hacke‘s Map (1699) – One of the earliest maps to show Pepys Island, based on supposed sightings.
- R.W. Seale’s Map (1745) – Depicted Pepys Island near South Georgia.
- Various 18th-century nautical charts – Many maps included Pepys Island until explorers found no trace of it.
Pepys Island was believed to be located north of the Falkland Islands, but later investigations suggested it was a misidentification of the Falklands themselves
10. Isle of Demons
- Location: Off Newfoundland
- Myth: Inhabited by demons and spirits
- Linked to: The story of Marguerite de La Rocque, marooned there in the 16th century
- Reality: A distorted account of real Canadian islands blended with legend.
The Isle of Demons was a legendary phantom island. It appeared on maps from the 16th to 17th centuries. It disappeared from cartographic records afterwards. Here are some maps that depicted it:
- Johannes Ruysch‘s World Map (1508) – It is one of the earliest maps to show the Isle of Demons. The Isle of Demons is located off the coast of Newfoundland.
- Giacomo Gastaldi‘s Map (1556) – Depicted the “Isola de Demoni” with illustrations of flying demons.
- Various 16th-century nautical charts – Many maps included the Isle of Demons, often associating it with supernatural legends.
The island was believed to be haunted by spirits and wild beasts. It was connected to the story of Marguerite de La Rocque. She was a French noblewoman who was marooned on a remote island in the mid-16th century.
11. Saxemberg Island
- Location: South Atlantic
- Reported: 1670 by Dutch captain John Lindestz Lindeman
- Seen again?: Sporadically until the 1800s
- Modern finding: No such island exists—either an illusion or misidentified volcanic activity.
Saxemberg Island is a phantom island. It appeared on maps from the 17th to 19th centuries. Eventually, it was dismissed as nonexistent. Here are some maps that depicted Saxemberg Island:
- John Lindestz Lindeman’s Map (1670) – One of the earliest maps to show Saxemberg, based on Lindeman’s reported sighting.
- British Admiralty Charts (18th-19th Century) – Included Saxemberg until skepticism grew about its existence.
- Matthew Flinders’ Map (1801) – Attempted to locate Saxemberg but found no trace of it.
- Various 19th-century nautical charts – Some maps continued to show Saxemberg until it was officially removed.
Despite multiple reported sightings, later expeditions failed to confirm its existence, leading to its classification as a phantom island.
Why Phantom Islands Persisted
- Sailors’ reports were often trusted without verification.
- Cartographers reused older maps as templates.
- Optical illusions, fog, icebergs, and mirages created believable sightings.
- Once on a map, islands gained legitimacy and were hard to remove.
Cartographic Impact
Phantom islands highlight how cartography was as much an art as a science. They:
- Misled explorers
- Delayed geographic understanding
- Became part of legends and imperial dreams
- Showcase the tension between exploration and mythmaking