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Phantom Ship of Northumberland Strait
A burning three-masted schooner appears in the strait between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It burns furiously but never sinks. Rescue boats approach, but it vanishes. It's been seen for over 200 years.
1786 - Present
Northumberland Strait, Canada
5000+ witnesses
The Phantom Ship of Northumberland Strait is Canada’s most famous ghost ship.
The Sighting
According to documented accounts:
Witnesses see:
- Three-masted schooner
- Completely ablaze
- Crew visible on deck
- Climbing rigging
- Fighting flames
The Pattern
Always the same:
- Appears at night
- Flames light the sky
- Visible for miles
- Rescue boats launched
- Ship vanishes before reaching it
Historical Record
Documented since 1786:
- Over 200 years of sightings
- Multiple witnesses together
- All descriptions match
- Newspapers reported
- Considered real phenomenon
Theories
Explanations offered:
- Gas release from water
- Optical illusion
- Bioluminescence
- Burning immigrant ship
- Pirate ship destroyed
Predictive Power
Local belief:
- Appears before storms
- Weather warning
- Fishermen take notice
- Usually correct
- Natural or supernatural?
Modern Sightings
Still seen today:
- 2008 multiple witnesses
- Various years throughout
- Same description
- Not declining
- Mystery continues
The Fire
The burning never ends:
- Masts collapse
- Rigging falls
- Crew scrambles
- But never sinks
- Always vanishes