- A thickly forested island appeared mysteriously on a western lake, nearly 500 feet long and 250 feet wide, taking locals and experts by surprise.
- The island made its second appearance nearly 20 miles from its original location, leaving residents wondering how an entire island can simply vanish.
- Bob Gammer, spokesperson for BC Hydro, called the island 'quite something and rather unbelievable' and emphasized the need for corroborating evidence in the age of AI.
- Gammer likened the growing conditions to hydroponics, noting that well-fed trees on a decaying food source with lots of water could grow quickly, and the reservoir is higher than it has been in 14 years due to high winter snowpacks and consistent summer rains.
- Gammer cautioned boaters against attempting to set foot on the island, warning that it is 'very unsafe' and 'very unstable' due to a delicate, thin layer of logs.
A thickly forested island recently appeared on Lake Chippewa in British Columbia, measuring roughly 125,000 sq feet and surprising locals and experts alike. The island, which is made up of peat, mud, roots, and trees, has undergone a remarkable aquatic displacement, moving nearly 20 miles from its original location.2
BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer described the phenomenon as “quite something and rather unbelievable.” He noted that satellite imagery confirmed the island's existence, floating in the main body of the reservoir, approximately 60 miles west of the dam. Gammer explained that the island likely formed from years of trees and plants growing on woody debris along the reservoir's shoreline, likening the conditions to hydroponics: “Well-fed trees growing on a decaying food source with lots of water… they could grow pretty quick.”34
However, Gammer warned that the island is “very unsafe” and “very unstable”, cautioning boaters against approaching it. Video evidence shows trees moving on a “delicate, thin layer of logs,” indicating the precarious nature of the floating landmass. The reservoir's water levels are currently the highest they have been in 14 years, attributed to high winter snowpacks and consistent summer rains, further complicating the situation.56
“The island, nearly 500 feet long and 250 feet wide, is a floating mass of trees on a delicate layer of logs, with the reservoir at its highest level in 14 years. Gammer likened the growth to hydroponics, noting high snowpacks and summer rains raised water levels in the Peace River.”
The Guardian
