Six famous lands that never existed

Before modern mapping and scientific exploration, the blanks on early maps were filled with myths, legends, explorers’ tales, and navigational errors. For centuries, many of these 'places' were widely believed to exist before eventually being debunked. Here are six of the most fascinating imaginary lands from history. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Atlantis: First mentioned by the philosopher Plato, Atlantis was described as a powerful, advanced island kingdom that sank beneath the waves. Over time, explorers searched for its remains around the world, with many theories but no definitive evidence of its existence. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Bermeja Island: Charted in the 1530s by Spanish cartographers, Bermeja appeared on maps of the Gulf of Mexico for centuries. Modern surveys, including a 2009 scientific expedition, found no sign of land, leading experts to conclude it was a phantom island. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Frisland: From the 1500s through the 1600s, maps showed Frisland as a large island in the North Atlantic near Iceland and Greenland. It likely originated from misidentified sightings and a controversial map by the Zeno family that cartographers copied for generations. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Hy-Brasil: For centuries, Hy-Brasil was depicted on maps as a circular, mist shrouded island off the west coast of Ireland. Folklore described it as a paradise that appeared only once every seven years, and mapmakers continued to include it from the 14th to 19th centuries despite repeated failed expeditions. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Mountains of Kong: Unlike islands, the Mountains of Kong weren’t land at all but a supposed mountain chain in West Africa that appeared on nearly 40 maps in the 1800s. Later exploration in the region proved the range never existed. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Sandy Island: Listed on nautical charts for more than a century, Sandy Island supposedly lay in the South Pacific near New Caledonia. The island was only definitively removed from maps after a 2012 scientific expedition found open ocean at its coordinates. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )