# Volcanic island appears off Sicily in 1831, sparks three-way claim 2026-08-07T10:45:22+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet An underwater volcanic eruption in July 1831 created a new island in the Strait of Sicily, roughly 800 metres across and 60 metres high. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies claimed it as Ferdinandea after King Ferdinand II. Britain renamed it Graham after the First Lord of the Admiralty, planted a flag and called it terra nullius. France surveyed the land and raised its own flag, naming it Julia. The dispute reflected real strategic concerns: the island sat near routes used by privateers and naval vessels in the Mediterranean. However, the arguments ended when the island crumbled and sank beneath the waves within months. The Times of India writes that the region remains volcanically active, and similar submarine cones dot the seabed off Sicily. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Britain, France, Mediterranean, Sicily, territorial dispute, volcanic island Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/volcanic-island-appears-off-sicily-in-1831-sparks-three-way-claim/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/volcanic-island-appears-off-sicily-in-1831-sparks-three-way-claim/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.