| Ernest Legouve Reef | |
|---|---|
 Ernest Legouve Rock on 1921 Pacific map | |
| Created by | Ernest‑Legouvé |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Phantom island |
The Ernest Legouve Reef is a phantom reef supposed to be located in the South Pacific, south of French Tuamotu Islands and east of New Zealand. Krauth reports that it is situated at 35°12′S 150°40′W / 35.200°S 150.667°W.[1][2]
According to a statement of the International Hydrographic Bureau (February 9, 1957), it "was reported in 1902 by the captain of the French ship the Ernest‑Legouvé. The reef was about 100 meters long and another reef was sighted near it."[3] It was recorded the same year in the "Paris Notice to Mariners 164/1122/1902." While it is absent from the 1859 Admiralty Chart, it is unclear if the 1902 sighting is the very first one by the Ernest‑Legouvé or another ship bearing that name.
It was searched for in 1982 and 1983 but not found, leading to it being considered a phantom island. Nevertheless, it is marked in the 2015 edition of the National Geographic Atlas of the World.[4]
Other nearby historically reported reefs which appear to not exist include Wachusett Reef, Jupiter Reef and Maria Theresa Reef (also known as Tabor Island, appearing in Jules Verne's In Search of the Castaways and The Mysterious Island).
- ^ Bernhard Krauth (1987). "Le Recif Maria-Theresa". BSJV (84th ed.). p. 32.
- ^ William Butcher (2001). "Introduction". In Jules Verne (ed.). The Mysterious Island. Translated by Sidney Kravitz. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. pp. xxiii–xxv.
- ^ United States Hydrographic Office (1916). Pacific Islands Pilot, v. 2. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 56. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ National Geographic Atlas of the World (10th ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. 2015. p. plate 109. ISBN 978-1-4262-1354-0.