Graham Island (Sicily)

37.16361111111112.718611111111Koordinaten: 37 ° 10 ' N, 12 ° 43' O

Ferdinandea ( Nerita ), also called Isola Ferdinandea, was a 1831 caused by a volcanic eruption, but soon disappeared again island in the Mediterranean Sea, about 60 km from the south-west coast of Sicily, between the island of Pantelleria, the Sicilian town of Sciacca. She lay on a previously excellent by volcanic phenomena spot and is one of the most interesting examples of eruption phenomena in the sea. According to recent studies, the present-day underwater volcano, this former island is part of an undersea volcanic massif, on which there is also little to the east of the underwater volcano Empedocles.

History

The eruptions began in early July 1831st smoke, ash and slag were ejected, and it formed before the eyes of the German geologists and volcanologists Friedrich Hoffmann ( 1797-1836 ) and by Constant Prévost, a small island with wallartigem crater rim. Hoffmann approached the island on 24 July. The island reached the end of the activities in August a circumference of 5000 meters and a height of 63 meters.

By the end of the eruption research expeditions in various European states had arrived on the island. Hoffmann baptized by King Ferdinand II the volcanic island was taken in possession but by an English captain who deposed a British researcher squad on her and she named Graham Iceland. This threatened to be a bone of contention between England and Naples. France also interfered in the disputes and named the island Giulia, as it was taken on a July day. Numerous tourists went to the geological attraction. She was, however, made ​​up only of loose material without connecting lava waves soon began their work of destruction after in August 1831 eruptions were declined.

In December of the year the island disappeared below sea level due to the surf, and the existing submarine cone flattened, but remained as a shoal. To 1888 there were about five meters, and later about six to eight meters.

The island continued to play no role until it was in 1987 held by a patrolling U.S. bomber mistakenly for a Libyan submarine and bombed.

2002 increased seismic activities were roughly registered to Ferdinandea, which led to the suggestion of a possible eruption of the volcano. To prevent possible re disputes, Italian divers installed a large sign on the top of Seevulkans that should underpin the Italian claim. By early 2005, however, there were no further eruptions.

Trivia

In the novel Master Antifers wonderful adventures of the French writer Jules Verne was a treasure buried in the short time in which the island rose above the sea level, there.

The plot of Terry Pratchett's novel Jingo ( original English title: Jingo ) also revolves around a suddenly appearing in the middle between two states island and its associated complications. Also, this island is sinking ends up in the sea.