The mystery of “El Ojo”, the Argentine floating island whose movement has baffled scientists

In the entire geography of our planet there is a point where a practically inexplicable phenomenon for scientists. In Argentinaright in the heart of the Paraná delta, there is a place that has fascinated experts. In the province of Buenos Aires There is an almost perfect circle of land that can be seen floating on the water.

Known as “The Eye”the first images of this land formation date back to the year 2003. The great fascination generated caused the first expedition attempt to this island to take place in 2016, which failed due to the few funds raised. However, its origin and peculiarities remain shrouded in great mystery. With a diameter of 118 meterswhat is most surprising about this islet is its movement. The island gets its name because it looks like an eye when seen from above. As the island seems to rotate on its own axis, the eye seems to move.

At first we have to attribute this curious phenomenon to the flora of the area. Floating formations in this region are more common than it seems, due to the accumulation of vegetation. However, the perfect shape of “The Eye” and its peculiar behavior make it a unique find on the entire planet.

On the other hand, through the different studies carried out it has been discovered that the water that surrounds this island is unusually clear for the region, something that has further complicated explanations about its origin. Erosion, underground currents and sediment accumulation could explain their formation and movement. Other experts suggest that the rotation could be due to the gas accumulation like methane.

Alternative hypotheses

In this type of scientific phenomena, what usually also generates are the crazy theories of the human being. Legends were already circulating in the area, many of them linked to sightings of strange lights in the sky or stories of protective spirits of the delta. Since its appearance in the various national and international media, theories have been generated ranging from paranormal explanations to the hypothesis that it could be a «door” to the beyond.

Regardless of the mystery that has been generated, “El Ojo” stands out as a reminder of the natural wealth and fragility of ecosystems such as the Paraná delta. This region has been characterized as a unique environment that faces threats such as intensive agriculture, livestock and urban development.

Despite its growing fame, the floating island remains largely unexplored, in part due to the inaccessible terrain around it. Phenomena like this are counted in dribs and drabs throughout our geography. Without going any further, this island has been compared to a rotating floating ice disk phenomenon and similarly observed in the Presumpscot River near Westbrook, in the United States.