Posted on 11/06/2018 7:07:07 AM PST by ETL
A tiny island off the coast of northern Japan has disappeared.
The uninhabited islet, called Esanbe Hanakita Kojima, was believed to be located about 500 meters from a village called Sarufutsu, near Hokkaido.
It was originally believed to sit approximately 1.4 meters above sea level and could be easily spotted from the northern area of Hokkaido.
But now, locals and scientists are struggling to find the islet on any navigation systems.
While the vanishing act is confusing to many, it has the potential to create major dramas for Japan’s leaders.
A local fisherman first noticed the island was missing, after producing a picture book about hidden islands.
CNN reported that Hiroshi Shimizu had wanted to travel to Esanbe Hanakita Kojima for inspiration for his book, when he couldn’t find it.
The island is no longer visible from boats or the shore.
According to media outlet The Asahi Shimbun, Esanbe Hanakita Kojima was one of 158 uninhabited islands which were used by the Japanese government to mark the country’s territorial waters.
Losing one of these could have lasting impacts to trade and security in international waters.
Little is known about the island, with The Japan Times reporting it was only “officially surveyed and registered in 1987 by the Japan Coast Guard”.
“It is not impossible that tiny islands get weathered by the elements,” a coast guard official told The Japan Times.
The disappearance of the island “may affect Japan’s territorial waters a tiny bit,” she added, but only “if you conduct precision surveys”.
The disappearance comes just weeks after an entire Hawaiian island vanished beneath the ocean’s waves following Hurricane Walaka.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A tiny island off the coast of northern Japan has disappeared
A Japan Coast Guard vessel patrols the Northern Territories east of the ‘disappeared’ islet
They could just build it back up, like China has been doing.
Lol, that was my first thought also. Obviously, the island tipped over due to some human interaction, according to well know geophysicist Hank Johnson (D-for Dumbass).
Godzilla - you beat me to the post !!
GODZILLA!
My first thought too.
LOL! How many of those movies did the actually make?
Sounds like a James Bond villain’s lair...
I’ve got a great real estate investment for somebody...oh wait.
I told you it was a Russian sub with a backhoe attachment on the front which dug the base of the island out causing it to sink.
“First,
There is a Mountain,
Then there is no Mountain.
Then there is.”
HEY! Now there is an idea! Lets get one of those over to one of the Chinese Islands and..
There have been several deep earthquakes in that area recently.
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