A floating island made of trees and vegetation has reappeared on Williston Lake in British Columbia after vanishing from satellite imagery earlier this month.
Rocky Avery, a local resident, received a video from a friend showing the object drifting on the water. The mass measures approximately 230 feet by 460 feet. It sparked global interest last month before authorities confirmed it was not a hoax or an artificial creation.
Bob Gammer, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, initially questioned the authenticity of the footage. He verified the object existed by locating it in satellite images taken on July 21. Those images showed the island roughly 60 miles west of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. Subsequent scans from August 5 showed no sign of the land, prompting a search that led to its rediscovery about 20 miles northwest of the original sighting.
Boaters have since sailed close to the object, providing additional proof of its reality.
“We had some earlier satellite imagery that confirmed that this wasn’t just a hoax or some kind of AI thing, and that it really was real,” Gammer told 404 Media. “Since then we’ve had more photos from people on their boats on the water sailing right up to this island, and additional satellite imagery that puts it all together to say that this is a real thing. It’s a sizable island.”
The island is not a new phenomenon, though Gammer noted it has not been reported on Williston Lake before. Floating islands form along shorelines over many years. Driftwood accumulates to create natural rafts that allow plants and trees to grow above the water. These platforms can detach during stormy weather or when shores flood, allowing them to drift into the open water.
Williston Lake is a reservoir created by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, which stands more than 600 feet high. High snowpack and precipitation caused the dam to open in June and July, filling the reservoir for the first time in 14 years. Gammer stated these high water levels, combined with strong winds, likely dislodged the island.
“This is all brand new to us,” Gammer said. “We’ve never seen anything like this on the reservoir.”
BC Hydro is asking boaters to keep their distance and avoid stepping on the island. The forested mass is structurally weak and hazardous to walk on. No animals have been spotted on the island, other than birds. However, animals have previously been swept away on these natural rafts. Many species have crossed oceans and reached new continents in this way.
The island poses no risk to the dam or vessels. BC Hydro is monitoring its journey through satellite images and eyewitness reports. The woodland may disintegrate over time or become reattached to the shoreline. If it survives until winter, it could freeze into the ice and thaw again in spring.
“It’s a break from everyday reality, and so it’s really captured a lot of attention,” Gammer said. “There’s a lot of media interest, and it’s been great to be able to tell the story. And who knows how long this will last? I mean, in terms of its news value, I’m sure it’ll disappear within a few days. But the island will be there for a while. We’ll be monitoring it, and if there’s anything exciting about it, we may be able to tell that story too.”
What it means
For people on the water, the situation requires caution rather than curiosity. The island is not a stable destination and could collapse under weight. The public should treat the sighting as a temporary natural event rather than a permanent feature of the lake.
