They learn that the island had sank a long time ago.

Other islands sink below sea level because of natural causes such as erosion.

"It was such a suprise," he said, "my wife thought the island might be sinking."

By the Cretaceous the island had sunk much further in relation to the sea level.

Great islands had sunk and new oceans had come into being.

There were humans on it; millions of them died when the island sank.

The locals annually proclaim "a night the island almost sank".

Heartsick, she watched until the island sank into the sea.

None of these ideas came to light, however, as the island soon sank back beneath the waters.

The island, as it aged and moved away from the "hot spot," has sunk 1,000 feet.