Ferdinandea is an unstable volcanic island in the Mediterranean Sea situated between Sicily and Tunisia. It emerged dramatically in 1831 following an undersea volcanic eruption, rapidly reaching an elevation of 63 meters. European powers, namely Britain, Spain, and the newly unified Kingdom of Italy, all scrambled to claim the newly formed island due to its strategic location. However, by 1832, the island vanished beneath the waves as quickly as it had appeared, owing to erosion by the sea. Ferdinandea has resurfaced a few times since then, only to be swallowed by the ocean again. This ephemeral island embodies a strange geopolitical dance, surfacing provocatively only to elude possession.
