Landsat 8 and 9, NASA's satellites, captured several images of the Caspian Sea's coastal zone from November 2022 to December 2024, which led to the discovery of a "phantom" or ephemeral island. This island is located approximately 25 kilometers off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan.

The island, known as Chigil-deniz, emerged from the waters of the Caspian Sea following the eruption of the Kumani mud volcano in early 2023. By the end of the following year, it had almost completely eroded, vanishing from sight as if it were a ghost.

Researchers have repeatedly recorded powerful eruptions of Kumani, which have created similar temporary islands since the volcano's first recorded eruption in 1861.

The eight previous recorded eruptions of Kumani occurred in bursts lasting less than two days and created islands of varying sizes. For instance, the eruption in May 1861 resulted in the formation of an island only 87 meters wide and 3.5 meters high above the water. It eroded by the beginning of 1862. The most powerful eruption occurred in 1950, when an island 700 meters wide and six meters high formed.

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