Thompson Island – Phantom Bouvet Satellite in the South Atlantic
Thompson Island · Thompson's Island · Bouvet phantom satellite
Phantom cartographic (1825–1967)·British sealing / Norwegian Bouvet annexation / German Valdivia·🇧🇻 South Atlantic south of Bouvet Island phantom, Norway
About
About Thompson Island – Phantom Bouvet Satellite in the South Atlantic
Thompson Island – 8 km long phantom island reported 13 December 1825 by George Norris (Sprightly) at 53°13′S 05°44′E 70 km NE of Bouvet Island (54°26′S 3°24′E), sighted with Bouvet on same voyage and charted as Bouvet's NE satellite for 140 years. The Norwegian 1927 Bouvet annexation, German Valdivia 1898 and 1965 US South Atlantic survey found 2500 m water at Thompson's position with acoustic seamount base but no emergence, suggesting Norris mis-identified Bouvet itself (observed twice due to fog) or a transient 1893 thunderstorm cloud-bank/phosphorescent iceberg. Officially removed from Admiralty charts 1967 after 1965 USNS survey.
Why it mattersExemplifies South Atlantic fog phantom and Norwegian annexation cartography; Thompson removed same year as Sandy re-propagated – bookend phantoms.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Norris saw Bouvet twice in 10 Dec vs 13 Dec 1825 due to fog loop track
- 021930s German 'Thompson Seamount' vs 1965 US 2500 m abyssal plain – acoustic ghost?
Theories
- 01Bouvet Island (54°26′S 3°24′E) is Thompson's true referent – world's remotest island
- 02Valdivia seamount acoustic phantom vs 1965 true abyssal
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Sighted 1825 Norris Sprightly; charted 1825–1967; searched Valdivia 1898, 1965 US 2500 m
- Period
- Phantom cartographic (1825–1967)
- Culture
- British sealing / Norwegian Bouvet annexation / German Valdivia
- Purpose
- Phantom satellite for Bouvet whaling claim – Norris's 'two islands'
- Abandoned
- Refuted 1898 Valdivia + 1965 US 2500 m sounding; de-charted 1967
- Rediscovered
- Phantom 1967
- Excavation
- Not applicable
Sighted 1825 Norris Sprightly; charted 1825–1967; searched Valdivia 1898, 1965 US 2500 m
Initial construction
c. 1524 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
53.2200° S · 5.7300° E · 0 m · 3 mapped features
- Thompson Charted Position (53°13′S 05°44′E)phantom position53°13′S 05°44′E Norris charted position where 1965 US found 2500 m – Thompson phantom centre 70 km NE of Bouvet53.2200° S · 5.7300° E
- Bouvet Island (True Thompson = Bouvet Duplicate)islandBouvet Island 54°26′S 3°24′E – world's remotest island duplicated as Thompson in fog54.4300° S · 3.4000° E
- Thompson Seamount Acoustic Ghostseamount2500 m seamount base acoustic ghost at Thompson position – bathymetric high but not emergent53.2000° S · 5.8000° E
Gallery