The Legendary Isle of Es Vedra: Atlantis, The Odyssey and a Magnetic Attraction for UFO Sightings

Es Vedra is a small island situated off the Spanish island of Ibiza. Unlike Ibiza, which is a popular tourist destination, Es Vedra is uninhabited. This is one of the factors contributing to the island’s rich wildlife. Apart from being notable for its flora and fauna, Es Vedra is also the subject of many legends. Most famously, the island has been associated with the legendary sunken civilisation of Atlantis. In addition, Es Vedra has been connected with Homer’s Odyssey, and sightings of UFOs hovering over the island have been claimed by many.

The island of Es Vedra is located in the Western Mediterranean, about 32 km (2 miles) off the western coast of Ibiza. Consisting primarily of limestone, the highest point of this small island is just over 400 meters (1310 feet) above sea level. Es Vedra is part of the Cala d’Hort Natural Reserve, and boasts an abundance of wildlife. The island is home to a sub-species of Ibiza wall lizard, in addition to several species of endangered birds, and up to 166 rare plant species.

Es Vedra’s Atlantis Legend

Whilst Es Vedra is renowned for its wildlife, it is even more noteworthy for being a site of great mystery. Although many legends have been connected with the island, arguably the best-known of all is that of Atlantis. It has been claimed that Es Vedra is in fact the tip of this lost civilisation, the only part that remained above the water after the island sank into the sea. One possible explanation for this connection is that the island is located close to the sandstone quarry of Sa Pedrera (on Ibiza), which had been given the name Atlantis by hippies living in a huge natural cave there during the 1960s.

View from Sa Pedrera to Es Vedra. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Origin of the Sirens

Es Vedra is also linked to ancient Greek mythology through Homer’s Odyssey. The island is believed to be the home of the sirens, mythical creatures who lured sailors to their death with their song. In the Greek epic, Odysseus wanted to hear the song of the sirens, and so, as his ship approached the home of the sirens, the Greek hero ordered his shipmates to tie him tightly to the mast, and had their ears plugged with beeswax. By this means, Odysseus was able to hear the song of the sirens, and lived to tell the tale.

• 2,300-year-old Punic Vessels uncovered in ancient shipwreck
• Floating Islands Seen at Sea: Myth and Reality
• 3 Problems to Remember When Trying to Find Atlantis

Ulysses Odysseus and the Sirens by Herbert James Draper. (Public Domain)

 It may be added that Es Vedra was regarded as the sacred island of Tanit, a lunar goddess of the Phoenicians. Statues of the goddess have been found all over Ibiza, and sacrifices are said to have been made to the goddess during full moon.

• The Legend of Atlantis: Between Ancient Ruins and a Philosopher’s Tale
• Ancient Huts Provide New Information on Magnetic Pole Reversal and the South Atlantic Anomaly
• The ancient history of UFOs and the unclassified document of Oppenheim and Einstein

Bust of the goddess Tanit found in the necropolis of Puig des Molins. 4th century B.C. Museum of Puig des Molins in Ibiza, Spain. (Public Domain)

An Island of Unexplained Energy

Apart from its association with the ancient mythology, Es Vedra is also said to be a place of high energy concentration. It has been claimed that the island is the third most magnetic place in the world, after the North Pole and the Bermuda Triangle. This concentration of energy has led some to speculate that the limestone rock of the island was used for the construction of the pyramids in Egypt, which is also claimed to have phenomenal energy-accumulating properties. Some visitors report feeling a surge of energy after visiting the island, and some maintain that Es Vedra possesses positive healing energy.

Last but not least, sightings of UFOs over the island have been reported over the years. The famous Manises UFO incident, for example, took place in 1979, when a commercial flight was forced to divert its course due to the appearance of a set of red lights whilst flying over Ibiza. Local fishermen have also reported spotting mysterious lights emerging form under the sea. Some believe that there is a link between these two strange phenomena, suggesting that there is an underwater UFO base beneath the island.       

Top image: The island of Es Vedra. Photo source: ©Joan Vadell via

By Wu Mingren