Hy-Brasil: do you know the history of this 'ghost island'?

For many years, it has been theorized about Atlantis, an island full of riches and natural exuberance that disappeared overnight. It turns out that there is another island with a very similar story, however, few people know about it: the island of Hy-Brasil.

Despite its name, it has no connection whatsoever with our country of pequi, couscous and brigadeiro. Very old maps showed an island off the coast of Ireland with this name. However, suddenly, it stopped being represented in cartographic records and became history.

But why? Where is Hy-Brazil? Keep reading and let's theorize together!

Our journey begins in 1325

At a time when none of us even dreamed of being alive, in the distant year 1325, this island began to appear on some maps. At first, it was just called “Brazil”.

She has already started causing it. On each map, over the years, it appeared in a different place.

Sailors at the time said that Hy-Brasil was shrouded in mist – did they also remember the island “The Mists of Avalon”? – and that very old people lived there. The place also had its legends and its folklore.

Mist and mystery

Around 1629, reports about Hy-Brasil began to appear among sailors and explorers. One of the most popular stories comes from a man named Captain Rich.

According to legend, this man reached the coast of the island, however, a very dense fog did not allow him to set foot on land. He believed that there were wizards and “enchanters” there who had bewitched Hy-Brasil, preventing outsiders from seeing her.

Another account, told by Captain John Nisbet, brings more details to the story. According to him, his crew and he were stranded on the mysterious island and managed to see an ancient, uninhabited castle there.

In the story, the sailors encountered a very old and sullen man, who claimed that he and other people were trapped there due to the Magic of a necromancer. The arrival of the explorers would have broken the curse.

Did Hy-Brasil really exist? Or disappeared from the map?

Literally, Hy-Brasil disappeared from the map. Actually, from the maps. From 1872 onwards, the island was no longer represented in them and became a myth.

It is very likely that the ghost island was just a navigational error. Which, let's face it, was very possible to happen at the time the legend appeared.

Furthermore, there is a theory that Hy-Brasil is the Porcupine Bank, a submerged area that is visible when the tide is low.

A shame, isn't it?

Graduated in Social Communication from the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.