Sandy Island, New Caledonia
6
MENTIONS
2
EPISODES
2
PODCASTS
Search complete. 6 mentions across 2 episodes found for "Sandy Island, New Caledonia".
Oct 8, 2026
Aaron MahnkeHOST
Roughly the size of Manhattan, the island was on nautical charts, Google Earth, in nearly any atlas too.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
Long ago, it was named Sandy Island, and that name stuck.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
But in all the recent years it remained on the map, no one ever visited.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
Not a human set foot on its beaches for that matter, and neither did any creature.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
No birds, no rats, no crabs.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
None could, in fact, because Sandy Island, well, it never existed.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
Labeled Ile de Sable on French charts, its whereabouts were first recorded as early as the 19th century, and even after, it was faithfully reproduced on maps, databases, charts for the next hundred years or so.
Aaron MahnkeHOST
You see, cartographers of the era would gather data not only from maps that came before but also from sailors and explorers.
JessHOST
... like right up our alley.
JessHOST
Um, so they call this Sandy Island.
JessHOST
Um, mentions of actual Sandy Island itself date back to 1876, um, when a whaling vessel traveling between Australia and New Caledonia made mention of the island in the eastern Coral Sea.
JessHOST
Uh, maps have included ex- its existence since then, and even, even Google Earth showed Sandy on its globe.
JessHOST
The only problem is that this island doesn't exist.