World

Scientists say South Pacific island doesn't exist

22:26 pm on 23 November 2012

Australian scientists say a South Pacific island, shown on marine charts and world maps as well as on Google Earth and Google Maps, does not exist.

Sandy Island, a supposedly sizeable strip of land, was positioned on Google maps midway between Australia and New Caledonia.

But when scientists from the University of Sydney went there, all they found was the Coral Sea.

The ABC reports the phantom island has featured in publications for at least a decade.

The Australian Hydrographic Service says its appearance on some scientific maps and Google Earth could just be the result of human error repeated down the years.