In nineteen oh six, explorer Robert Peary claimed to spot a massive Arctic island from Cape Colgate—territory he named Crocker Land after his San Francisco banker backer, George Crocker. The claim seemed solid enough that in nineteen thirteen, an entire expedition set out to map and explore it. There was just one problem: the island never existed. According to Boing Boing, Crocker Land turned out to be one of exploration's most persistent geographical ghost stories, a geographical phantom that sent explorers on years-long Arctic searches.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton