Graham Island (Mediterranean Sea)
Graham Island Isola Ferdinandea ( Campi Flegrei del Mar di Sicilia (Phlegraean Fields of the Sea of Sicily)[citation needed] | |
---|---|
Location | |
Location | Between Sicily and Tunisia |
Coordinates | 37°10′N 12°43′E / 37.167°N 12.717°E |
Geology | |
Type | Submarine volcano |
Last eruption | 1863 |
Graham Island (also Graham Bank or Graham Shoal; Italian: Isola Ferdinandea; French: Île Julia) is a submarine volcano in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Sicily that has, on more than one occasion, risen above the surface of the Mediterranean via volcanic action and soon thereafter been washed away. Since 300 BC this cycle of events has occurred four times.[3]
The top of the island is presently 6 metres below sea level. The island's most recent "appearance" occurred in July 1831, but then by January 1832 the portion of the island above sea level had been entirely washed away again by the wind and the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. The 1831 version of the island was first visited by the Sicilian customs official Michele Fiorini on 17 July 1831, who planted an oar there to claim the newly emerged island for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.[4]
On 2 August 1831
The island is a part of the underwater volcano
submerged it again.During its brief life in 1831, French geologist
Early history
Volcanic activity at Graham Island was first recorded during the
1831 eruption and competing claims of sovereignty
Graham Island's most recent appearance as an island was in July 1831. The first reports of high seismic activity and/or eruptions occurred during a period spanning from 28 June to 10 July 1831. These reports came from the nearby town of Sciacca.[2] On 4 July an odour of sulfur spread through the town reportedly in such quantities that it blackened silver.[2] On 13 July, a column of smoke was clearly seen from St. Domenico. The residents believed it to be a ferry on fire.[2] On the same day, the brig Gustavo passed through the area, confirming a bubbling in the sea that the captain thought was a sea monster. Another ship reported dead fish floating in the water.
By 17 July, a fully grown islet had formed enough to where Sicilian customs official Michele Fiorini was able to land there and to claim the island for the Kingdom of Sicily.[2][4]
On 2 August 1831,
Dispute
In the months ahead, Graham Island eventually became the subject of a four-way dispute over its
Initial diplomatic disputes
In August 1831, the volcano had risen above sea level. Although still only a couple of rocks, the Royal Navy thought it was very suitable as a base to control the traffic in the
The King of Sicily also realized its strategic significance, and dispatched the
Hopes for development
During the island's brief lifespan tourists began to travel to the island to see its two small lakes. Sailors watched it when passing by, and nobles of the House of Bourbon reportedly planned to set up a holiday resort on its beaches.[10] None of these ideas came to fruition, however, as the island soon sank back beneath the waters. By 17 December 1831, officials reported no trace of it. As dynamically as the seamount appeared, it disappeared, defusing the conflict with it.[11]
Recent seismic activity
After 1863, the volcano lay dormant for many decades, its summit just 8 m (26 ft) below sea level. In 2000, renewed seismic activity around Graham Island led volcanologists to speculate that a new eruptive episode could be imminent, and the seamount might once again become an island.[12] In November 2002 the Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome observed minor seismic activity and gas emissions.[11] They put the time of resurfacing at a couple of weeks or months. Italian sailors put an Italian flag on the top of the bank to avoid other nations' claims if the former island resurfaced. Despite showing signs in both 2000 and 2002, the seismicity did not lead to volcanic eruptions and as of 2000[update] Graham's summit remains about 8 metres (26 ft) below sea level.[1]
Year 2000 Sicilian plaque with claim of Italian sovereignty
To forestall a renewal of the sovereignty disputes, in November 2000 Italian divers planted a Sicilian flag on the top of the volcano in advance of its expected resurfacing.[11] In a ceremony attended by Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro (a descendent of Ferdinand II) and his wife Princess Camilla, a marble plaque was lowered into the water, with Prince Carlo proclaiming that the island "will always be Sicilian".[12]
The marble plaque, weighing 150 kg (330 lb), was inscribed "This piece of land, once Ferdinandea, belonged and shall always belong to the Sicilian people."[10] Within six months, it had fractured into twelve pieces.[6]
Significance
Scientific study
The sudden geologic phenomenon was observed and studied by numerous scientists. Among the Germans were
In 2006, further study revealed Graham Island to be just one part of the larger volcanic cone Empedocles.[7]
Marine significance
The island is still referenced on marine charts, as its top is only 6 metres (20 feet) short of breaking the surface, it thus becomes a potentially dangerous hidden obstacle for many seafaring vessels whose keels most often run deeper than this.[10] It is also a small shoal on which near-surface maritime creatures dwell.
Nat Turner's rebellion
In August 1831, observers around the world reported a discolored sun in the sky, tinted blue, purple, or green. Researchers have attempted to discover what volcanic activity was responsible for the stratospheric discharge that caused the discoloration, with an early consensus that Babuyan Claro in the Philippines was the most likely source. But later research has concluded there was no 1831 eruption at Babuyan Claro,[13] and some have argued the smaller activity at Graham was the likely culprit.[14]
Whatever caused the 1831 discoloration is historically significant in the
Cinderella stamps and art coins
A number of Cinderella stamps and art coins have been issued over the years, under fictional names such as Poste Isola Ferdinandea.[16]
In 2000, an unofficial minting of a penny was produced by a Sicilian artist, featuring the former island on one side and, unusually, a bust of Elizabeth II on the other. David Mannucci, the designer of the coin, had the idea to produce it after he "found out the existence of the ghost island" from a newspaper article. Besides the copper piece, he minted varieties in silver, copper "with protective enamel", and in silver "with protective enamel". While this Italian-made coin fittingly bears the Italian name for the former island, the art coin also features a bust of "Elizabeth II D.G.R." and bears a British denomination.[17]
In popular culture
During its emergence it was visited by
See also
- List of islands of Italy
- List of volcanoes in Italy
- Volcanism in Italy
- Sabrina Island (Azores), an earlier volcanic island and diplomatic incident analogous to that of Graham Island
References
- ^ a b c d Bird, Maryann (20 March 2000). "Fire from the Sea". Time. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ferdinandea - The Disappeared Isle". Almanacco Siciliano. Accessed 11 February 2009.
- New York Times. Reuters. 2002-11-26. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
- ^ a b Gallo, Emanuela (2005-09-24). "Ferdinandea: L'isola che non c'è (Ferdinandea: The island that no longer exists)". Supereva. Retrieved 2021-07-08. Historical description of brief appearance of island.
- ^ "Notes sur l'ile Julia pour servir a l'histoire de la formation des montagnes volcaniques" in Mémoires de la Soc. Géol. de France, 1835 ("L'exploration de île Julia" Archived 2006-05-01 at the Wayback Machine).
- ^ a b Nield, Ted (February 2003). "From out the azure main". Geoscientist. Geological Society of London. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Campi Flegrei Mar Sicilia". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
- ^ "Isla Ferdinandea | La guía de Geografía". geografia.laguia2000.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ a b c George, Rose (26 September 2001). "The Island that Time Remembered". The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Volcano may emerge from the sea". BBC News. 26 November 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ a b Carroll, Rory (13 November 2000). "Bourbons surface to retake island". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- S2CID 52222449.
- S2CID 237525956. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Gray-White, Deborah; Bay, Mia; Martin Jr, Waldo E. (2013). Freedom on my mind: A History of African Americans. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. p. 225.
- ^ Stampboards. "Have you ever heard about "Poste Isola Ferdinandea"?". www.stampboards.com. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Tædivm - Ferdinandea". www.taedivm.org. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
External links
Media related to Graham Island at Wikimedia Commons