Boaters in western Canada recently found something unusual on a lake: a small, green island with trees that was floating in the water. The floating island was spotted on Williston Reservoir in British Columbia. Video of the moving land soon spread quickly online.
At first, officials at the local power company thought the video was fake. However, satellite pictures from late July proved that the island was real. The island is about 9,800 square meters, which is the size of 1.5 American football fields.
A few weeks later, the island suddenly disappeared from satellite images. Many people wondered if it had sunk to the bottom of the lake. Fortunately, pilots flying above the area recently found the island again. It had moved about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) across the lake to the shore.
Experts believe the island formed over many years. Fallen wood probably gathered together on the water, and plants and trees began to grow on top. High water levels this summer may have pushed the land away from the shore. Officials warn that the island is unstable and tell people not to step on it, as it could break apart.