The region of Sicily, in Italy is known for its seismic activity often accompanied by eruptions on Mount Etna that over the centuries have caused tens of thousands of deaths.
It was 1831 when a group of fishermen noticed that something strange was boiling at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. By July of that year, Sicilian fishermen had begun to notice scars of dead fish rising to the surface of the ocean. The fish were edible, but they smelled of sulphur.
The cause of the fish die-off became clear a few days later, on the night of July 10, when sailors noticed that signs of a volcano had appeared above the waves, spewing smoke, ash and lava. It grew and grew, and by August a whole island had formed.
The island was little more than a rock – about half a mile (800m) in diameter and 200ft (60m) above the sea – but it was full of possibilities; many people even believed they were witnessing the birth of a whole new continent.
Located at the heart of European shipping routes, the island soon led to an international dispute, as France and Great Britain competed with the Sicilians for ownership of the island. The argument was all for nothing, however. Within five months, the island had sunk back under the surface of the ocean, leading some to call it "L'isola che non c'è" (the island that is not there) or "L'isola che se ne andò" (the island that was left).
This month marks the 190th anniversary of the island's appearance. Volcanologists have been able to map the seafloor around the Sicilian Strait in incredible detail, with stunning images of this short-lived Atlantis. Their work could help us understand why it appeared and disappeared — and whether a new island might ever rise in its place.
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