'Ghost island' appears after underwater eruption, then vanishes into the Caspian Sea
undefined 29, 2025
A short-lived “ghost island” appeared in the Caspian Sea in early 2023 after an underwater mud volcano, Kumani Bank, erupted off the coast of Azerbaijan. The island grew to about 1,300 feet wide by February but steadily eroded and had nearly vanished by late 2024, NASA satellite images show. Azerbaijan, home to over 300 mud volcanoes, lies above active tectonic zones, making such eruptions common. Though less explosive than lava volcanoes, mud volcanoes release flammable gas, occasionally sparking fiery blasts. Similar temporary islands have formed — and disappeared — elsewhere, including in Tonga and Japan.
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