At first glance, Null Island might seem like just another of the countless islands scattered across our planet. However, the truth about this island is far more fascinating: Null Island doesn’t really exist.
So, why does it have a name, and why do so many people know about it?
The Genesis of Null Island
Null Island gets its moniker from its coordinates: 0°N 0°E. This is the point where the equator meets the prime meridian, right off the west coast of Africa.
But if you were to travel to these exact coordinates instead of an island, you’d find yourself floating in the Gulf of Guinea. The island’s very existence is a digital fabrication, a response to a common error in Geographic Information System (GIS) data.
The advent of digital mapping and satellite tracking has revolutionized the way we navigate our world. But with technology comes the inevitability of errors.
When GIS doesn’t have valid data for some reason, it defaults the location as “null.” This translates to 0° latitude and 0° longitude in the system. Consequently, a vast number of mapping errors point to this exact location in the Gulf of Guinea, leading to the humorous creation of “Null Island” to “house” these mistakes.
Having Some Fun
In light of the frequent misplacement of geographical data to this point, some cartographers decided to have a bit of fun. They “created” a 100-square-meter island at the 0°N 0°E point, complete with its own flag, history, and even weather station (which, of course, does not exist). This conceptual island has become a well-known inside joke among the GIS community.
While Null Island is a humorous solution to a digital problem, its very existence serves an essential purpose. Every time data points erroneously to 0°N 0°E, it alerts cartographers and data scientists to an error in their datasets.
These mistakes can range from simple misplacements due to incorrect data entry to more systemic issues in data collection methods.
By having a “go-to” spot for these errors, professionals can more easily identify and rectify them.
Source: “The Center of the Earth Has an Imaginary Island and One Floating Soul” — Atlas Obscura