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 ...
Upwards of 40 if I counted correctly on IMDB
Taco bell made a bunch of talking Chihuahua dogs a while back. I still have the one that says that. (although the battery may need to be replaced)
“...Even more ridiculous is that he ever got elected....”
You know... that really IS the scary thing about it, isn’t it.
A moron, elected by bigger morons who think him fit to serve their interests.
Probably just misplaced it. It’ll turn up eventually
I had no clue...
While I knew in my heart-of-hearts, thar there was a man in that costume, I never thought about the stagehands/director, etc, interacting with the creature in the actual scene. That’s absolutely cool.
1) it tipped over
2) globull warming
3) China needed another island so stole it.
Island whack-a-mole ?
If they used it to define territory waters, but it was only 500 meters from a village, then it only shifts the line by 500 meters, right?
Island on a Rope. They pull it in at night and put it out during the day.
Heck, that's probably why it disappeared in the first place. The Chinese stole it to use in building up their islands in the Spratleys ...
Lol, that is really funny! I used to work for a guy who was so stupid my teeth hurt every time I was around him.
Haha!!!!
PAINFULLY stupid, as it were!!! Haha!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.