Is it possible for an island to “go missing?” We thought not, but it turns out that a small B.C. island randomly appeared on the Williston Reservoir and seemingly disappeared just as quickly.
The island first made waves internationally after suddenly appearing near Finlay Bay, as if out of thin air. BC Hydro says they were first made aware of the vegetated island on Aug. 13, after receiving photos and video believed to have been taken around July 21.
But just as it started gaining attention globally, the island appeared to vanish entirely in mid-August, puzzling the public and experts alike.
The runaway island was located again on Aug. 31, when BC Hydro confirmed its location using satellite imagery dated Aug. 15, as well as observations from an aircraft and reports from local boaters.
“While we now know where it is, we’re still learning more about how it formed and how it came to drift across the reservoir,” they share in a recent Instagram post, dated Sept. 2.
Given that the Williston Reservoir is the largest in B.C., and one of the largest in the world by volume, it’s not a surprise that this tiny floater evaded the attention of BC Hydro for some time.
Apparently, it had drifted 30 km in 15 days, and now sits on the shoreline of the Ospika Arm of Williston Reservoir.
“When we first received photos and video of a floating island covered in trees, we weren’t entirely convinced,” says BC Hydro Community Relations Manager Bob Gammer. “In the age of AI, it’s important to verify unusual reports before drawing conclusions. Once we confirmed the island through satellite imagery and other observations, it quickly captured the imagination of the public and media and sparked interest among scientists studying how floating vegetated islands form and move.”
According to the latest photos shared, the now-famous “missing” island remains fully intact, with established vegetation growing on its surface.
BC Hydro confirms it is approximately the size of two football fields: 70 metres wide and 140 metres long.
While they explain that floating vegetated islands of this size are considered uncommon, they can occur on large reservoirs.
A possible explanation as to the island’s origins is that it formed from logs and woody debris that accumulated in a sheltered area over an extensive period of time.
After years and years of decomposition, new vegetation may have taken root, creating a “stable mass of interconnected debris and plant growth.”
After attracting the interest of geologists, ecologists, and other researchers around the world, the mystery of B.C.’s floating island has officially been solved. But there are still so many more questions about this unusual natural phenomenon.
“While we’re pleased to have confirmed the island’s location, there is still more to learn about how it formed and how it came to drift across the reservoir. We’ll continue monitoring the island and learning more about its origins and movement as the story unfolds. Stay tuned.”
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