An unusual optical phenomenon, depicting a giant ocean liner in flight, was observed by vacationers off the coast of the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia's Krasnodar region.
"A giant cruise liner flew over the Black Sea," read a Telegram post.
Natural Fact
This kind of mirage is called Fata Morgana. It's considered extremely rare, but it wouldn't be the first time it has fooled residents of the Krasnodar region this summer, according to social media reports.
For scientists, this is completely reasonable: the summer of 2023 is not hot in this region, and the horizon stratifies the atmosphere into warm and cold layers, one of the publications pointed out.
"This is thought to be what creates the flight effect", it added.