Schjetman Reef
Encyclopedia
Schjetman Reef is a supposed phantom island
in the North Pacific west of Hawaii
, reported discovered by the Norwegian
captain Ole Andreas Schjetman in 1868. He reported its coordinates to be 16°8′N 178°58′W. The island was reported to be 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) long (north-to-south) and 0.5 nautical mile (0.926 km) wide (east-to-west).
Since Schjetnan's discovery, various expeditions have set out to attempt to find the island. The USS Alert
in 1880, the USS Milwaukee
in 1923, and the USS Whippoorwill
and Tanager
in 1924 all searched for the island without finding it. A sighting was reported in 1990, however, by a sailor
from Hawaii
.
The two Norwegians Bård Sæther and Arild Solheim undertook an expedition in the S/Y Havaiki in January 2006 to find the island.
Phantom island
Phantom islands are islands that were believed to exist, and appeared on maps for a period of time during recorded history, but were later removed after they were proved to be nonexistent...
in the North Pacific west of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, reported discovered by the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
captain Ole Andreas Schjetman in 1868. He reported its coordinates to be 16°8′N 178°58′W. The island was reported to be 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) long (north-to-south) and 0.5 nautical mile (0.926 km) wide (east-to-west).
Since Schjetnan's discovery, various expeditions have set out to attempt to find the island. The USS Alert
USS Alert (AS-4)
The third USS Alert was an iron-hulled screw steamer gunboat in the United States Navy. The lead ship in her class, Alert was destined for a long Naval career, serving from 1875 to 1922, a period of 47 years, including service as a submarine tender in World War I...
in 1880, the USS Milwaukee
USS Milwaukee (CL-5)
thumb|300px|right|Launching of MilwaukeeUSS Milwaukee was an Omaha-class light cruiser in the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship named for the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
in 1923, and the USS Whippoorwill
USS Whippoorwill (AM-35)
USS Whippoorwill was a Lapwing-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing....
and Tanager
USS Tanager (AM-5)
USS Tanager was an acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing....
in 1924 all searched for the island without finding it. A sighting was reported in 1990, however, by a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
The two Norwegians Bård Sæther and Arild Solheim undertook an expedition in the S/Y Havaiki in January 2006 to find the island.
See also
- 1932 German map showing Schjetman Reef between Wake Island and Johnston Island