Search on For Missing Island

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Missing ‘Island’ Floating In Earth’s Atmosphere

Natalie Wolchover, Life’s Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Date: 03 August 2011 Time: 05:53 PM ET
Illustration of the floating island of Laputa, a strange land in Jonathan Swift's 'Guliver's Travels.' Public domain image.
Illustration of the floating island of Laputa, a strange land in Jonathan Swift’s ‘Guliver’sTravels.’
CREDIT: Public domain image

A floating “island” is at large somewhere in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The 23-foot-wide, helium-filled model of a desert island was constructed by two artists for a festival in Cambridgeshire, England. Tethered by ropes, it hovered above a lake on the grounds of the Secret Garden Party festival until the wee hours of July 24, when vandals let it loose. Reminiscent of the airborne island of Laputa in “Gulliver’s Travels,” it floated away.

Based on meteorological data, the inflatable’s creators say “Is Land,” as they call their art piece, may be hovering in the troposphere above the Czech Republic by now. They’ve asked for help retrieving it via their websi te

 

to read more, and join in, go to: http://www.livescience.com/15387-missing-island-floating-earth-atmosphere.html

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