- A mysterious tree-covered landmass measuring approximately 10,000 square meters suddenly appeared in Williston Reservoir in British Columbia, only to disappear weeks later from its original location.
- BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer initially thought reports of the island on Williston Lake were a hoax, but satellite images confirmed its existence in mid-August.
- In late August, the island was spotted again near the Ospika River area, approximately 32 kilometers from its original sighting, reinforcing that it had simply been drifting across the reservoir.
- Boaters in northern British Columbia are being warned to stay away from a mysterious floating island that has reappeared on a lake after drifting about 30 kilometres in two weeks.
- The island, measuring about one hectare, disappeared but was spotted again on Monday, having travelled about 30 kilometres.
- Officials at BC Hydro, the provincial electric utility company, initially suspected the images might be AI-generated.
- Scientists believe this wasn't a true island but rather an enormous accumulation of trees, roots, and organic material that had built up along the shore over many years, eventually developing vegetation on its surface.
- The reservoir's elevated water levels, which reached capacity this year for the first time in 14 years, likely detached the mass from the shoreline, setting it adrift.
A mysterious tree-covered island measuring approximately 10,000 square meters has captivated residents and officials in British Columbia's Williston Reservoir. Initially spotted on July 21, the island was confirmed by satellite imagery, leading BC Hydro to issue warnings to boaters.17
The island, which is believed to be an accumulation of trees, roots, and organic material, was first documented drifting about 30 kilometers from its original location near the Bennett Dam. BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer noted, "This is definitely something we haven't encountered before," as the island vanished by August 5, raising questions about its fate.28
Gammer explained that the island's disappearance could be attributed to it drifting back to a more sheltered area along the shoreline or crumbling apart into the reservoir. The phenomenon is linked to the reservoir's elevated water levels, which reached capacity for the first time in 14 years, likely detaching the mass from the shore.9
The island was spotted again in late August near the Ospika River area, reinforcing the idea that it had simply been drifting across the reservoir. Area resident Rocky Avery, who shared images of the island, expressed his amazement, stating, "It was a pretty amazing sight to see, never seen anything like that in my 40 years in this country."34
The island's dimensions are estimated at 460 feet long and 230 feet wide, with a surface area of approximately 105,000 square feet. Gammer emphasized that while the island's origin remains uncertain, it is common for trees to clump together in the reservoir, and the rising waters likely lifted the mass free, which he called the "best theory" of its formation.
“BC Hydro initially suspected the images were AI-generated, but satellite images confirmed the island's existence in mid-August. Scientists believe it's an accumulation of trees and organic material that broke free when the reservoir reached capacity for the first time in 14 years.”
The Globe and Mail
