A new island has emerged from the water, and experts are concerned.

An unusual phenomenon occurred in the middle of a lake in northeastern Alaska. A new island has appeared in the waters surrounding the popular American state. Previously, only a block of ice had been spotted in the area; now, it's a landmass that formed in less than a month. The discovery puzzles and worries researchers.

New island in Alaska

The American Earth Observatory NASA reports on the matter. It turns out that a new island has appeared in Lake Alsek due to glacier retreat and significant changes in the ecosystem caused by climate change. The island has an area of approximately 5.18 km² and is completely isolated from the rest of the land. Scientists have observed that the area was previously completely covered with ice, but the ice has melted. Interestingly, the Alsek Glacier has been shrinking for decades, and the local lake is growing larger.

How exactly did the new island form? Scientists believe it was caused by the Alsek Glacier retreating enough to separate from Prow Knob, a small mountain on the lake. This occurred approximately two months ago, between July 13 and August 6. This conclusion was based on satellite images. Some of the images were taken in July 1984, while others were taken as recently as August 2025. The island's formation has been considered one of the most tangible evidences of glacial retreat in Southeast Alaska.

"At the beginning of the 20th century, the Alsek Glacier extended as far as Gateway Knob, about 5 kilometers west of Prow Knob," reported Mauri Pelto, a researcher at Nichols College and a member of the NASA Earth Observatory Advisory Board. He added that by mid-century, the ice had retreated eastward but continued to cover Prow Knob, and now the ice has almost completely disappeared.

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Experts are concerned

The phenomenon of the new island, while interesting, is worrying scientists. NASA experts point to a trend where glaciers are melting at a rapid pace. They also add that new and larger lakes are completely changing the topography of a given region. Satellite data reportedly indicate that Lake Alsek's surface area has increased from 44 km² in 1984 to 75 km² in 2025. Other glacial lakes are also expanding.

Experts note that nothing will change unless the average global temperature is brought under control.