Sarah Ann Island facts for kids
Sarah Ann Island (sometimes called Sarah Anne) is a place that many people once thought was a real island. It was believed to be in the Pacific Ocean. However, it was probably never a real island at all! Instead, it was most likely Malden Island, which is a real island nearby.
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What Was Sarah Ann Island?
Sarah Ann Island was first "discovered" in 1858. An American company that collected guano (bird droppings used as fertilizer) claimed it. They did this under a special law called the Guano Islands Act. This law allowed American citizens to claim islands with guano for the United States.
The Mystery of Its Location
People thought Sarah Ann Island was located at about 4 degrees North latitude and 154 degrees West longitude. This is a spot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. But there was a big problem: no one could ever find it there!
Was It a Mistake?
One idea is that Sarah Ann Island was actually Malden Island. Malden Island is a real place. The only difference is that Malden Island is at 4 degrees South latitude, not 4 degrees North. It's possible someone made a simple mistake when writing down the coordinates, mixing up "North" and "South." This kind of error is called a clerical error.
Searching for the Island
Many people tried to find Sarah Ann Island, but they were never successful.
German Astronomers Look for It
In 1932, a group of German astronomers went looking for the island. They wanted to use it as a place to study the stars. But after a long search, they could not find Sarah Ann Island anywhere.
Later, in 1937, the United States Pacific Fleet also tried to find the island. They wanted to set up a special observatory there. Their goal was to watch a solar eclipse that was going to happen. An eclipse is when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light.
The Navy searched for the island, which had supposedly been seen 15 years earlier. But just like the astronomers, they couldn't find it. The island was simply not there.
Sarah Ann Island Disappears from Maps
Because no one could find Sarah Ann Island, the US Navy decided to make a change. They removed it from their maps and charts. This is why Sarah Ann Island is now known as a phantom island. A phantom island is an island that appears on maps for a while but is later found not to exist.
