Wachusett Reef
| Wachusett Reef | |
|---|---|
|
Wachusett Reef on 1921 Pacific map | |
| Type | Phantom island |
Captain Lambert of the ship Wachusett reported that on June 4, 1899 he passed over a reef which appeared to be of coral formation in approximately latitude 32°18′S 151°08′W / 32.300°S 151.133°W. The reef appeared to be about 500 feet wide. The bottom showed of a dark gray color with deep blue on both sides of the reef. The depth was estimated at from 5 to 6 fathoms; unfortunately no soundings were taken.[1]
The 2005 edition of the National Geographic Atlas of the World still shows Wachusett Reef, with a depth of 9 meters.[2] Nevertheless, its existence is doubtful making it a phantom reef. Other nearby historically reported reefs which appear to not exist include Ernest Legouve Reef, Jupiter Reef, and Maria Theresa Reef.
Notes
- ↑ United States Hydrographic Office (1916). Pacific Islands Pilot, v. 2. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 56. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ↑ National Geographic Atlas of the World, 8th edition (2005). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, plate 93. ISBN 0-7922-7543-8
References
This article incorporates text from Pacific Islands Pilot, v. 2, a publication from 1916 now in the public domain in the United States.
- Eade, J.V. (1976). Geological notes on the Southwest Pacific Basin in the area of Wachusett Reef and Maria Theresa Reef. Wellington: New Zealand Oceanographic Institute.