Bermeja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bermeja |
|
|---|---|
An 1846 map showing "I. Bermeja".
|
|
| El Yucatán e Islas Adyacentes location | |
| Created by | Alonso de Santa Cruz |
| Type | Phantom island |
Bermeja is a mysterious phantom island that appeared on many old maps of the Gulf of Mexico. It was shown off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Maps from the 1500s all the way to the 1900s included this island.
However, when people searched for Bermeja, they could not find it. A survey in 1997 found no island. A big study in 2009 by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) also found nothing. This makes Bermeja a "phantom island" – one that is believed to exist but cannot be found.
Contents
What is a Phantom Island?
A phantom island is a piece of land that appears on maps for a long time. People think it is real, but later it turns out not to exist. Sometimes these islands were seen by mistake. Other times, they were just made up. Bermeja is one of the most famous phantom islands.
Why Was Bermeja Important?
Interest in Bermeja grew in 2008. This was because of oil. If Bermeja truly existed, it would change the borders for oil drilling rights. These rights are for areas in the Gulf of Mexico called "Doughnut Holes." These areas are rich in oil. If Mexico had an island like Bermeja, it could claim more of these oil-rich waters. This would mean more oil for Mexico.
Where Did Bermeja Come From?
The island was first mentioned in 1539. A Spanish writer named Alonso de Santa Cruz included it in his list of islands. This list was called El Yucatán e Islas Adyacentes. Another mapmaker, Alonso de Chaves, gave its exact location around 1540. He said the small island looked "blondish or reddish." The Spanish word for this color is bermeja.
Some maps from Great Britain started reporting the island had sunk. This was around 1844. They said it was about 60 fathoms (about 110 meters) underwater.
What Happened to Bermeja?
There are a few ideas about why Bermeja cannot be found today:
- Mapping Mistakes: Early mapmakers might have made a mistake. They might have drawn an island that was never really there.
- Ocean Floor Changes: The bottom of the ocean can change over time. It is possible the island sank due to natural shifts.
- Rising Sea Levels: The level of the ocean has slowly risen. A very small island could have been covered by the water.
- Conspiracy Theories: Some people believe the island was secretly removed. They think a powerful group might have destroyed it. This would have been done to change who gets the oil rights.
No matter the reason, Bermeja remains a mystery. It is a reminder that even maps can sometimes show things that are not real.
See also
