It starts with a cold air mass close to the ground or surface of the water that is topped by a warm layer of air higher in the atmosphere. It makes sense that sailors in the 1600s (and beyond) would see this mirage and, unaware of this natural phenomenon, assume it to be something supernatural.įor a Fata Morgana to appear, the atmospheric conditions have to be just right. It is well documented that this type of mirage can make far-off ships look like they are floating well above the water. Most experts today believe that the Flying Dutchman can be explained by the Fata Morgana phenomenon. Legend has it that seeing the Flying Dutchman is a sure sign of doom at sea. In more recent years, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, sailors reported seeing light coming from the ghost ship as the Flying Dutchman tries to signal the dead. Historians believe that this tale originated in the 17th century. The Flying Dutchman, Ghost Ship at SeaĪccording to lore, the Flying Dutchman is a ghost ship doomed to sail the seas forever. It may even be the source of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. This type of mirage is responsible for all kinds of unusual sightings, from mountains in the middle of the ocean to ships that appear to be flying. It takes its name from Arthurian legend, named for the sorceress Morgan le Fay, who was said to use these images with her witchcraft to lure unwitting sailors into her traps. To put it simply, Fata Morgana is a type of mirage, one that is normally associated with the open ocean but can also be seen at times on land. If you’ve read about the sinking of the Titanic, you may have heard the term “Fata Morgana.” While there’s no doubt an iceberg was responsible for the sinking of the ship on April 15, 1912, new evidence suggests that this rare optical illusion might have also played a part.
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