Geo-PoliticsIn 1832, a volcanic island surfaced near Mount Etna, 30 kilometres off the coast of Sicily. Naturally, the discovery inspired months of international territorial disputes between Britain, France, Spain and the Two Sicilies.
Many disputants were clearly miffed when King Ferdinand II claimed the island for Sicily, naming it "Ferdinandea". They were less miffed, when, six months later, Ferdinandea disappeared from sight again beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
[In 2003, with Etna threatening to erupt again, Sicilian divers, hoping to claim Ferdinandea once again, planted a flag on the rock even though it was still submerged eight metres beneath the surface!]
Ferdinand II, (?- ) Sicilian king
[Sources: Discovery Canada (exn.ca), Nov. 27, 2002]More Ferdinand II anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
Italy Sicily Volcanos Bad Omens Geology Geography Territorial Disputes Islands 19th Century
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